A religious leader has been jailed for up to five years for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on the NSW south coast.
William John Kamm, also known as The Little Pebble, was convicted by a NSW District Court jury of aggravated sexual intercourse and four counts of aggravated indecent assault against the girl.
The assaults took place 12 years ago when the girl lived within the Order of St Charbel community, based at Cambewarra near Nowra, which was led by Kamm.
Kamm, 55, claimed to have received advice from the Virgin Mary that the girl should be chosen as one of 12 queens and 72 princesses who would become his mystical wives, to spawn an immaculate race after the world ended.
The jury was told he sent the teenager a series of explicit love letters, repeatedly stating how sexy she was and that heaven had granted permission for them to sleep together.
Kamm looked tense but showed no emotion as Judge John Williams sentenced him to at least three-and-a-half years behind bars.
Judge Williams said that while the case did not fall into the worst case scenario, a full-time jail term was warranted.
“I am concerned there is a significant risk of re-offending,” he said.
Kamm will be eligible for parole in April 2009.
Kamm’s victim, now 27, left the court smiling and told reporters she was pleased and relieved about Kamm’s punishment.
Defence barrister Greg Stanton said an appeal was being mounted against Kamm’s conviction and sentence.
“You’ve heard it clearly referred to many times this morning, he maintains a plea of not guilty – otherwise he wouldn’t be appealing,” Mr Stanton told reporters outside court.
A spokesman for the Order of Saint Charbel declined to comment on Kamm’s imprisonment.