A PAEDOPHILE who used his Kogarah movie cinema to groom and sexually assault underage boys over three decades will remain in jail for a maximum of seven years.
Philip William Doyle, 69, of Sans Souci, was sentenced to a non-parole period of 4 years in the Downing Centre District Court last Friday.
He could be released as early as January 3, 2017.
A court heard five boys aged 13 to 16 were sexually assaulted from 1980 to 2003.
The former owner and operator of cinemas in St George was found guilty of 38 counts of sexual and indecent assaults by a jury on July 4 this year.
This was Doyle’s second trial in relation to the charges after a jury was unable to reach a majority verdict last October.
Doyle was acquitted of 21 charges in another trial involving two other boys in May this year.
A jury found there was not enough evidence to find him guilty of offences involving indecent assault and buggery.
After his conviction in the most recent trial, Doyle said he was innocent of all charges and planned to appeal.
‘‘The conviction will be strenuously appealed,’’ a statement read to the Leader said. ‘‘The verdict was not supported by the evidence and it is a gross miscarriage of justice.’’
Police attached to strike force Beantree spent months investigating Doyle’s case before arresting him at his home in August 2009.
During last Friday’s sentencing, Judge Greg Woods said Doyle had ‘‘a virtual smorgasbord of attractive youths’’ and used his position of authority to groom and assault them.
‘‘His role [as an employer] was central to the offending behaviour,’’ Judge Woods said.
He likened Doyle to a good salesman who dined his victims, took them swimming and befriended their parents.
‘‘Mr Doyle was in a position of authority,’’ he said. ‘‘He was a charming man, able to influence boys and was able to get on well with their parents.’’
Doyle owned the Mecca cinemas at Kogarah and Hurstville and operated a cinema at Oatley.
Offences occurred in several places, including the projection room, toilet cubicles and the candy store room at the Kogarah cinema.
They also occurred when Doyle drove some of his victims home, took them back to his Cronulla unit or invited them to use his sauna/spa.
One victim was 13 when the sexual abuse began. Doyle was found guilty of 23 offences that took place from 1989 to 1999.
Judge Woods rejected the defence argument Doyle was a heterosexual who had the occasional girlfriend.
He said he had no doubt he was a homosexual with a ‘‘persistent sexual fascination with youths’’.
‘‘He has been in a closet within a closet,’’ Judge Woods said.
In sentencing, he said it was important to note Doyle was never violent or used threats.
But no leniency would be afforded because he refused to confess or show any remorse.
He acknowledged the emotional damage done to his victims, including depression, anger, internalised guilt and confusion.
After learning of his sentence, Doyle waved to a crowd of supporters and said ‘‘we’ll be together again soon’’.
Sentences for each offence ranged from 1 years to four years, with some to be be served concurrently and others consecutively.
