Soccer coach who molested two teenage girls appeals sentence

Anthony Nelson Picture

THE Gold Coast junior soccer coach jailed on Thursday for sexually molesting two teenage girls is appealing his sentence.

Anthony Nelson, who faced two charges of indecent treatment, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court last week and was sentenced to six months in jail, but would have been eligible for parole in two months.
Nelson, who was allowed to continue working with his under-12 boys team, despite his club knowing about the charges, lodged an appeal against his sentence in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday.
The father of one of the victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the Bulletin he was outraged at the possibility of the man walking free.
“We thought this was all over and done with and now I’ve been told he could be back on the streets today,” he said.
Nelson’s legal team confirmed the man was applying for bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court today and the appeal will be held at a later date.
The father-of-three was convicted after he gave two girls aged 14 and 15 cigarettes and alcohol during a slumber party in Varsity Lakes in May last year.
In the early hours of the morning, Nelson crept into the bedroom where the first victim, a 14-year-old girl, was sleeping and lay next to her, stroking her face.
He then asked the girl to kiss him before groping her breasts and pinning her hands down before leaving the room.
Nelson then returned later and lay down next to the 15-year-old girl and stroked her back and bottom, before getting on top of her and trying to kiss her, saying she was “sexy” and a “princess”.