Award-Winning Children's Author Sentenced for Grooming Teen Victims
An acclaimed author who gained access to young audiences through school book events has been incarcerated following a conviction for grooming three teenage victims online. Oliver Phommavanh, 42, once celebrated for his children's fiction works including Thai-riffic!, What About Thao? and The Other Christy, was escorted to jail by New South Wales sheriffs on Monday after admitting to multiple child sexual offences.
Significant Fall from Grace
During a sentence hearing at Sydney's Parramatta District Court, his barrister Kieran Ginges remarked on the writer's dramatic downfall. 'He has had a significant fall from grace,' Mr Ginges stated. 'He will never be a public figure again, he will always be a public pariah.' Phommavanh groomed three young girls between 2020 and 2024, employing compliments as a means of persuasion towards sexual activity.
The author was arrested at a residence in the Sydney suburb of West Guildford shortly after attempting to groom an undercover police officer who was posing as a teenager online. Before being taken into custody, the writer was denied a final opportunity to embrace his wife, who was present in court alongside his sister and members of his church community.
Details of the Offences
Mr Ginges disclosed that the online chats, which included highly sexualised stories with the three victims, occurred both before and after the girls turned 16. In one instance, Phommavanh told a victim, 'I'm going to keep saying it but you are way more mature than your age.' One of the girls sent him twenty photographs of herself. Additionally, the court heard that the 43-year-old engaged in a sexual act while being observed by the undercover police officer.
Although Phommavanh had previously worked as a teacher, the grooming incidents took place after he transitioned to a career in writing. His barrister contended that the offending conduct was not particularly severe, arguing that his client had not been found in possession of child abuse material downloaded from illicit websites.
Legal Arguments and Sentencing
Mr Ginges suggested that while the three teenage victims demonstrated a degree of self-preservation, including discussions about consent, the conduct of the undercover officer was more permissive, designed to test how far Phommavanh would proceed. The barrister asserted that the writer never intended to meet any of the victims for sexual activity, having established a mental boundary that his actions were acceptable as long as no physical meetings occurred.
The court was informed that Phommavanh now recognises the serious impact and trauma his behaviour inflicted upon the three girls. Mr Ginges urged Judge Peter Krisenthal to impose a lengthier non-parole period, emphasising that the community would expect the 43-year-old to undergo continued psychological treatment.
Prosecution's Stance
In contrast, the crown prosecutor advocated for a harsher sentence, arguing that there was no evidence to suggest Phommavanh had merely groomed the girls for sexualised online conversations. The prosecutor highlighted that the author persisted in his offending, exploiting one victim who contacted him after reading one of his books. He manipulated the three girls during online chats, using discussions about his writing to introduce sexualised themes.
In August, Phommavanh pleaded guilty to four counts of grooming, one count of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child, and one count of transmitting child abuse material. His sentencing is scheduled for February 13.
Literary Achievements and Downfall
Prior to his arrest, Phommavanh enjoyed considerable success in children's literary circles, featuring on writer's week panels, podcasts, and multiple award shortlists. He was included in a literary anthology celebrating 'Australia's bestselling authors, illustrators and funny people.' His 2010 novel Thai-Riffic! was short-listed for the Young Australian Best Book Awards and was one of two Phommavanh titles inducted into the hall of fame for the NSW-based children's choice Koala awards in 2015.
Furthermore, The Other Christy and What About Thao? were both long-listed for the prestigious Children's Book Council of Australia awards, underscoring the stark contrast between his professional acclaim and criminal actions.
