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Maggie Kirkpatrick avoids jail time for child abuse Maggie Kirkpatrick avoids jail time for child abuse
(4 days later)
Australian actress Maggie Kirkpatrick has avoided jail time after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage girl in 1984. Australian actress Maggie Kirkpatrick has avoided jail after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage girl in 1984.
Kirkpatrick, 74, who starred in the Australian TV drama Prisoner Cell Block H, denied charges of gross indecency with a person under 16.Kirkpatrick, 74, who starred in the Australian TV drama Prisoner Cell Block H, denied charges of gross indecency with a person under 16.
The court ruled on Thursday she had abused the 14-year-girl at her Melbourne home.The court ruled on Thursday she had abused the 14-year-girl at her Melbourne home.
Kirkpatrick on Friday was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.Kirkpatrick on Friday was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
She will be placed on a sex offenders' registry for eight years and has to undergo a sex offenders program and rehabilitation assessment. She will be placed on a sex offenders' register for eight years and has to undergo a sex offenders' programme and rehabilitation assessment.
In sentencing, Melbourne Magistrate Peter Mealy said Kirkpatrick would have been jailed if the offences were not historical in nature, local media said.In sentencing, Melbourne Magistrate Peter Mealy said Kirkpatrick would have been jailed if the offences were not historical in nature, local media said.
In a statement read to the court on Thursday, the unnamed victim said she had organised a meeting with Kirkpatrick through a TV producer while she was a patient in a psychiatric hospital.In a statement read to the court on Thursday, the unnamed victim said she had organised a meeting with Kirkpatrick through a TV producer while she was a patient in a psychiatric hospital.
She said she had not reported the abuse until recently because she feared people would call her "crazy".She said she had not reported the abuse until recently because she feared people would call her "crazy".
Kirkpatrick played a warden called Joan, nicknamed the Freak, in Prisoner, a popular series set in a women's prison.Kirkpatrick played a warden called Joan, nicknamed the Freak, in Prisoner, a popular series set in a women's prison.
She later appeared in a host of other Australian TV shows and in 1991 played Marilyn's aunt Jean Chambers in Home and Away. Her most recent role was in a stage production of the musical Wicked.She later appeared in a host of other Australian TV shows and in 1991 played Marilyn's aunt Jean Chambers in Home and Away. Her most recent role was in a stage production of the musical Wicked.