Accused Paedophile Living Freely in Australia After Avoiding Trial in Modern Zealand

A Christchurch man accused of multiple sex abuse offences is reportedly living in Australia after avoiding trial in New Zealand due to health concerns. Ronald Thompson, 69, was facing 18 charges relating to alleged sexual abuse against six victims when the case was halted in 2023.

Health Concerns Halted Trial

Thompson was due to stand trial in 2023 on 18 charges of sexual offending, including indecent assault and rape, against six alleged victims – four girls and two boys – between 1981 and 2002. However, the trial was halted after medical evidence suggested he was terminally ill and receiving palliative care, with only months to live. He was subsequently declared unfit to stand trial.

Living on the Sunshine Coast

Nine’s A Current Affair reported that Thompson is now residing in a waterfront apartment in Maroochydore, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. 1News and The Sydney Morning Herald have similarly reported on the case.

Questions Raised About Thompson’s Health

Video footage obtained by A Current Affair appears to show Thompson moving around independently, including climbing stairs even as walking his dog. When questioned by reporters, Thompson denied being well enough to return to New Zealand to face trial, claiming a recent trip to the Philippines was only possible with the aid of a wheelchair. However, footage from the Philippines reportedly shows him sitting on a balcony smoking and drinking without visible assistance.

Victims’ Reactions and Calls for Action

One of Thompson’s alleged victims expressed outrage, stating, “He’s obviously not dying.” She urged authorities to send him back to New Zealand to face trial, saying, “He needs to answer to it.”

Australian Federal MP Andrew Wallace, whose electorate includes part of the Sunshine Coast, has called for the Department of Home Affairs to consider cancelling Thompson’s visa and deporting him. The SMH reports that Australian law allows for visa cancellation if a non-citizen is deemed a potential risk to the health or safety of the community.

Background

Thompson was a well-known figure in Christchurch in the 1990s, appearing in television commercials for his carpet company, Ron’s Discount Carpets. A suppression order lifted in the Blenheim District Court in 2024 led to six additional alleged victims coming forward to police.