A man who kidnapped and held a 4-year-old girl captive for 18 days was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.
Terence Kelly, 37, , pleaded guilty to abducting a sleeping Cleo from a remote campsite in Western Australia on 16 Oct 2021.
Cleo was driven 47 miles to his home, where he locked her in a bedroom.
After a long search, police led to her rescue on 3 November. She was four years old and was playing with dolls when she was discovered.
After a viral video of Cleo’s moment, caught the attention of the entire world and was shared on social media.
Kelly will be eligible to receive parole within 11 years and 6 months.
Judge Julie Wager imposed the sentence Wednesday. She noted Kelly’s troubled past but stated that his risk of reoffending is high, according to psychiatric experts.
She stated that “you pose a high chance of psychologically harming any future victims if you reoffend.”
Kelly was diagnosed with a severe personality disorder that he suffered from from childhood neglect, according to a psychiatrist who was consulted.
He was inspired to create a fantasy world with multiple imagined children from different women.
Kelly is a member Australia, an Aboriginal community that was mentioned by the judge during the imposing of the sentence.
Judge Wager stated that many Aboriginal people in Western Australia have been affected by colonization.
“I accept that I am one of them, and I accept the fact that you have turned to drug abuse because of the trauma and pain you’ve endured throughout your life.”
Aboriginal people are below the Australian national averages in most socioeconomic measures. They also suffer from disproportionately high rates for suicide, domestic violence, and imprisonment.
Their life expectancy averages eight years less than that of non-indigenous individuals.
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