Child abuser says girl he assaulted ‘wanted it,’ describes HER behaviour as ‘unbelievable’

A 75-year-old pedophile, who was jailed for sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl, argued with the court that his victim “knew what she was doing” when she “seduced” him, adding that she “wanted it.”

The elderly child abuser attempted to convince the judge that the kindergartener was “trouble” as he described HER behavior as “unbelievable.”

Cornelus Bezuidenhout, who claims to be a “good Christian,” made similar vile comments to police when he was arrested in January after the girl pleaded with her parents to keep the abusive family friend away from her.

The father of five – a South African national who now lives in Melbourne -, had been trusted to look after the child after befriending the parents of his niece’s friend.

The court found Bezuidenhout guilty of all charges against him, with the judge describing his comments as “repugnant” during sentencing.

He was sentenced to 22 months in prison, but will likely only serve 10 months for his crimes.

According to the Daily Mail, he had repeatedly molested the child after collecting her from kindergarten, taking her on trips to the park and playing dolls in a bedroom.

On one occasion he touched the little girl while he shared a meal with her parents.

The brazen sex offender was caught after his terrified victim pleaded with her parents not to let him come around to their house. 

“He’s not as nice as he seems,” she warned, telling her shocked parents Bezuidenhout had “touched her private parts.”

The child was forced to recount her ordeal to the court just days before Christmas last year, telling a judge her abuser had hurt her.  

The devout Baptist pleaded guilty to two charges of sexually assaulting a child aged under 16. 

He had initially denied abusing the girl, telling his wife of 26 years that nothing was wrong.

He continued his outrageous behavior when questioned by police, telling them the little girl was trouble.

Bezuidenhout blamed his victim for her abuse, telling detectives “it was no accident.”

“It was purely for her as she wanted it,” he said.

“It was a game … she knew exactly what she was doing.”

Bezuidenhout said he abused the girl only to “please her” and that he was a “good Christian” who had been unable to maintain an erection for the past five years. 

“This little girl should know boundaries because she’ll get herself into trouble,” he told police. 

He went on to muse that it was “unbelievable a five-year-old seduces a 75-year old man.”

County Court of Victoria Judge Gabriele Cannon agreed. 

“The punishment must be just,” she said. 

Judge Cannon condemned Bezuidenhout for his “gross breach of trust” and labeled his comments to police as ‘repugnant’.

“You knew what you did was wrong … you blame the six-year-old victim,” she said. 

She sentenced the civil engineer to 22 months in jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months. 

With time served, Bezuidenhout will likely be deported back to South Africa in a little under seven months. 

He will return alone after his wife filed for divorce with plans to remarry.