Former Catholic priest Robert Hickman jailed for sexually abusing foster girls

Robert James Hickman, a former Catholic priest with a prior history of sexual offences in New South Wales, was sentenced in the WA District Court after pleading guilty to one count of sexual penetration of a child and one count of indecent dealing with a child.

The court heard that in 1990, Hickman flew from Sydney to Perth on official church business and attended a dinner at the foster home of the two girls, then aged 11 and 13. The girls knew him as 'Father Bob'. After dinner, he entered their bedroom to give 'goodnight prayers' and read a Bible story.

Hickman told one girl he would give her a 'special blessing' before touching her indecently, then groped the other girl in a similar manner. As he left, he said: 'Goodnight girls, God bless, it was lovely to meet you.' The court was told the girls cried themselves to sleep afterwards.

One of the victims reported the incident to her foster mother, who initially dismissed her as a liar. Nine years later, the foster mother reported the matter to the Catholic Church's WA Professional Standards Office. Hickman sent a letter of apology, and the church offered money as part of a non-disclosure agreement.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by prosecutor Rachael McCallum, one of the women described the impact of the abuse as 'immeasurable'. She said she had to carry the burden of being sexually abused and being called a liar while already coping with the death of her parents and a new living situation.

District Court Judge Karen Shepherd said the offences were too serious to justify a suspended sentence. Hickman was ordered to serve his term immediately at Casuarina Prison.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The case highlights ongoing failures in institutional responses to child sexual abuse, including initial disbelief of a victim by a foster parent and the church's use of non-disclosure agreements.
It demonstrates that perpetrators can face justice decades later, though the sentence length may raise questions about proportionality given the severity of the abuse.
The victim's experience of being dismissed as a liar underscores the barriers survivors face in reporting abuse, particularly within faith-based care settings.

Background

Robert James Hickman is a former Catholic priest whose history of sexual offences against children dates back to the late 1970s. He had previously been imprisoned for similar crimes in New South Wales. The Catholic Church in Australia has been the subject of numerous inquiries into child sexual abuse, including the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (2013–2017), which examined how institutions handled allegations.

Key Perspectives

Victims/survivors: The women, now adults, have waited 36 years for a conviction. One victim described the abuse's impact as 'immeasurable' and said she carried the dual burden of the assault and being called a liar. The legal system: The court imposed an immediate custodial sentence, rejecting a suspended term on the grounds that the breach of trust was too serious. The sentence is 2.5 years, which will require Hickman to serve a portion before possible parole. Critics/skeptics: The church initially responded with a letter of apology and a financial settlement tied to a non-disclosure agreement — a practice widely criticised for silencing victims and preventing accountability.

What to Watch

Any appeal by Hickman against the sentence or conviction.
Whether other victims come forward following this conviction.
Potential scrutiny of the Catholic Church's current handling of historical abuse claims, including the use of NDAs.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources