Serial rapist gets indefinite sentence

A serial rapist and paedophile whose crimes date back to the 1970s has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in jail.

Northern Territory Chief Justice Brian Martin took the unusual step of imposing an indefinite sentence without parole.

Fifty-two-year-old William Gordon Turner pleaded guilty to child sex crimes committed over a four-year period involving a girl who was 11 years old on the date of the first offence.

In sentencing, Chief Justice Martin said Turner was grooming children for sex and showed very serious patterns of sexual offending.

He listed a 30-year history of sexual crimes against women and girls, starting in the early 1970s.

The judge imposed an indefinite sentence on Turner, saying if released it was highly likely he would commit further offences as he was unable to control himself.

A co-accused woman, 32-year-old Patricia Rayment, was sentenced to at least five years' jail for her role in four of the sex crimes.

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