Child sex offender William Kamm’s parole conditions end

AAP, Australia/October 13, 2015

By Andrew Koubaridis and AAP

IN his own eyes, William Kamm, the cult leader known as “Little Pebble” was a “handsome, sexy, attractive man” that was a “magnet” for women.

For his victims, including those who he raped over years as teenagers, he’s a monster they need protecting from.

And the New South Wales Government has such serious doubts about the convicted sex offender’s ability to change it has been trying to have an interim supervision order imposed that would have ongoing restrictions.

Kamm, 65, was released on parole from Long Bay jail last November after serving nine years in jail for having sex with two 15-year-old girls, claiming God and the Virgin Mary urged him to do it.

A judge will today release his decision on the Attorney General’s application to keep closer tabs on him, with more than 40 conditions being sought.

During a hearing last week at the Supreme Court Justice Robert Hulme was told Kamm had a history of sexual deviance that made it likely he would reoffend.

Ian Freckelton QC said reports had shown Kamm had a narcissistic personality disorder and that he was able to exert influence over vulnerable people.

The court was read documents where Kamm had stated: “Women had great respect for me. Women stood in awe of me. Women were always attracted to me, like a magnet”.

Other reports tendered to the court suggested Kamm had hyper-sexual behaviour, a history of sexual deviance and maintained his religious belief system. These factors — combined with his continual belief he was innocent of the original charges — indicated he was a high likelihood of sexual reoffending if he wasn’t supervised beyond parole.

Mr Freckelton said there was every reason to believe Kamm still exerted “significant power” over the The Order of St Charbel, which he claims has more than 500,000 supporters in 160 countries.

Not much is known about the secretive NSW South Coast cult but last year the Daily Telegraph visited the cult and found run-down cottages, two huge concrete water tanks, children’s play equipment, tractors and firewood.

Members walked around wearing aprons with crosses stitched to the front and closely guard the enclave, refusing to let members of the public enter.

Kamm wanted to be allowed to return there but his parole conditions prevented him from doing so.

The case for keeping restrictions on Kamm centres largely around the state’s belief that he hasn’t changed and still cannot be trusted.

When he was questioned about when Kamm had last expressed his beliefs that women were in awe of him Mr Freckelton made the comments at the time of his conviction — but “the general proposition will be not much has changed”.

Since his release, Kamm married for a third time, to a woman who was a member of his religious community for 18 years.

Kamm’s lawyer, David Carroll, said the conditions were “designed to limit his freedom of movement unnecessarily” and the only necessary condition was that he not have contact with anyone under 18.

He said Kamm had been compliant in not reoffending since 1995, though he noted almost half that time was spent behind bars.

Justice Robert Hulme said he had reservations about a number of the conditions being sought.

One of his victims spoke out late last year of her desire to put the past behind her and get on with her life.

The woman, now aged in her 30s, was impregnated when Kamm raped her. Her son is now aged 15, but “never wants to meet his father”.

She told The Daily Telegraph of the abuse she suffered.

“Over a five-year period he’d take me to a hotel in Wollongong and he’d just have his way with me,” she said. “I’d turn around, close my eyes and cry ... God told him to do it apparently.”

At the time of his release his former wife, Bettina Kamm, said much of what went on at The Order was kept from her.

“They adore him, he’s the prophet, he’s like the king of this place.”

Kamm is believed to have ­fathered more than 20 children during his days as a cult leader.

After his release he told the Telegraph he was feeling “good, great” and believed he was reformed “as much as possible.”

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