On December 23, 2024, law enforcement apprehended 79-year-old Guy Norman Hartcher for attempting to solicit sex from individuals he believed were minors online.
Note: This article discusses themes of child sexual exploitation.
Among those he contacted was an undercover officer, who had been communicating with the former priest on Telegram under the guise of a teenager named Ben for several weeks.
Footage captures detectives from the sex crimes unit placing the elderly man in handcuffs outside a small South Asian grocery store.
In March, the ex-Vincentian priest admitted guilt to multiple charges related to child abuse materials and the solicitation of minors for sexual purposes.
Documents submitted in the NSW District Court, reviewed by AAP today, reveal the disturbing nature of Hartcher’s online behavior throughout the year 2024.
“There is no such thing as too young,” he told one user he shared child abuse material with in November of that year.
His online discussions with “Ben” involved topics such as sexual intercourse, masturbation and his own sexual experience.
“This is me baby,” he said when sending his picture to undercover police.
“Way older but interested in talking sexy and being your guide to sex as much as you want.”
Hartcher tried to solicit sex from two other users claiming they were teenage girls on the Zangi app, offering them Apple gift cards in exchange for images.
He told one user claiming to be 15-years-old that he wanted to be her “dirty daddy” and discussed meeting up on Christmas Eve for sex.
“You will thank daddy on Tuesday baby,” he said.
In chats with someone else he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, he used the love heart and eggplant emojis.
The former priest asked how the girl had not yet been sexually assaulted by her uncle, father, teacher, or classmate’s dad.
In chatting with another 14-year-old, he mentioned how he loved the “little girl cuddly toy” on her bed.
He also said he found her younger cousin attractive.
Hartcher shared explicit child abuse images and videos, including AI-generated material, with six others through Telegram.
Many of these texts and images are too explicit to report on, and included topics such as incest.
He boasted about being able to train young girls so they became attached and ready for sex, telling one user he could share this knowledge.
“What I really NEED is a 12 yr old,” he wrote.
“I had one I raised and trained a few years ago but when she finished school I encouraged her to get a boyfriend.”
He also claimed a naked teenage boy he raped in some changerooms while on holiday in Fiji had yelled and tried to escape before settling down.
Hartcher remains out on bail and will be sentenced in July.
1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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