
ALT Screenshot of a Reddit post from the r/auslaw community sharing an excerpt from a news article about a Queensland District Court sentencing. The post quotes that defence barrister Mr Gates said his client pleaded guilty “on the basis that the penile intercourse lasted five minutes, not more than that, and he desisted.” It then states that Judge Ryan Haddrick immediately stopped proceedings and ordered the courtroom to remain silent for five minutes “to feel the gravity of those moments”. The quoted exchange continues with the judge saying, “Sit down for a second, just sit down for a second,” followed by, “In fact, sit down for five minutes, starting now.” , “Thanks to Dean Evans who brought this to my attention.”: “Judge forces court into five-minute silence over child sex act horror.” The subheading says a Queensland judge stopped court proceedings after a barrister attempted to minimise a man’s sexual offence against a child. The article is by Jon Mendelsohn and dated 10 July 2026.


























