This morning the fate of Brisbane Kmart Child Abductor was determined and the 27-year-old issued a statement via his lawyer, Shaune Irving.

In December 2019, Sterling Mervyn Free convinced a young girl to follow him out of Kmart, North Lakes and then proceeded to molest her. He then returned her to the Westfield shopping centre approximately an hour later.

Sterling Free has pleaded guilty to taking a child for immoral purposes, deprivation of liberty, and indecent treatment of a child under the age of 12. For his crimes, he was handed a sentence of just 8 years, with eligibility for parole in August 2021. The judge called the situation as ‘every parent’s worse nightmare’.

After the sentence was handed down, Free’s lawyer read a statement on behalf of his client to the awaiting media.

The 27-year-old man who lured a girl from Kmart before sexually assaulting her has been sentenced to a maximum of eight years behind bars. He will be eligible for parole in less than two years. Sterling Free’s statement has been read by his lawyer outside court. #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/qOObCLYJi7

— 7NEWS Sunshine Coast (@7NewsSC) 10 October 2019

‘I took away her innocence and scared her family. I hope that today my sentence provides her and her family some hope for the future, I can only ever say sorry. I know that is not good enough’. 

The mother of a seven-year-old girl abducted from Kmart has warned parents that teaching their children about “stranger danger” may not be enough to protect them. #9Newshttps://t.co/2NxQwHnfe7

— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) 10 October 2019

Denise Morcombe had met with the little girl’s family and has released a series of tweets on the matter.

Bruce and I are shocked at the brazen nature of this frightening KMart abduction. We have privately met this loving family and on their behalf we release this Statement from the young girl’s mother. (It is in 3 seperate tweets to follow) — Denise Morcombe (@DeniseMorcombe) 10 October 2019

1. “My tiny innocent girl was well aware of stranger danger, however this person was friendly to her and tricked her into following him”

— Denise Morcombe (@DeniseMorcombe) 10 October 2019

2. “no child should ever have to go through this type of trauma, and no sentence will ever be long enough to make up for the ongoing effects this will have on her” — Denise Morcombe (@DeniseMorcombe) 10 October 2019

3. “We, as a family, remain positive and are trying to move forward. We would like to thank the QPS, the QDPP and the Australian public for their support throughout this ordeal”

— Denise Morcombe (@DeniseMorcombe) 10 October 2019

Kmart kidnapper sentenced to maximum eight years in jail: @DeniseMorcombe and @BruceMorcombe read a statement on behalf of the girl’s mother. https://t.co/PUuQKGf8CG #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/Bt5EhxtXBg

— 7NEWS Sunshine Coast (@7NewsSC) 11 October 2019

Sterling Free penned a letter to the court:

‘I accept full responsibility for my actions against the young girl. I know the enormous pain I have caused her, her family, my own family and children.

‘I today accept without reservation the punishment imposed by the justice system today.

‘I do not wish to cause any further pain to the young victim or her family or delay justice any further.

‘I cannot comprehend the pain that I have caused her. I took away her innocence and scared her family.

‘I hope that today my sentence provides her and her family some hope for the future.

‘I can only ever say sorry. I know that this is not good enough.

‘I’m not looking for forgiveness but only to let you know the harm that I have done, the harm that I have caused.

‘I cannot imagine the pain and fear I have caused. I can’t take that back.

‘To my family, the shock you have had to deal with, the public scrutiny was immense, my children deserve better.

‘They will now grow up without a father and I can only blame myself. I cannot comprehend the damage I have caused. I will seek treatment to ensure this doesn’t occur again.

‘I am committed to using my incarceration to seek professional assistance that I duly require.’