Norman guilty of historic indecent dealing charges

An elderly Albany electrician accused of sexually assaulting eight girls during a decade of abuse which began more than 40 years ago has been found guilty by jury.

In WA’s District Court this afternoon, Kenneth Ernest Norman, 80, was found guilty of 12 of 23 of indecent dealing charges after a jury deliberated across two days.

Throughout the trial the jury heard the offending spanned from the early 1970s to late 1980s, mostly in Albany, involving girls who Mr Norman knew, but was not related to.

Norman had denied he groped the girls during trips to the beach, outings on his boat, rides on motorbikes, or during camping trips.

Their ages ranged from seven years old to 13 years old.

The victims, women now aged in their 30s, 40s and 50s testified how they were used by Norman for his sexual gratification when he groped and molested them.

Norman’s defence lawyer Tom Percy said there was a financial incentive for the accusers to come forward and they were motivated by a compensation claim and they had “colluded amongst themselves”.

Norman was bailed on a $50,000 personal undertaking and $75,000 surety before he is sentenced on October 29.

More in Tuesday’s Albany Advertiser.