INFO:

A former Central Queensland hospital wardsman preyed on a young girl, waiting for others in a pool complex to leave, before sexually abusing her under the guise of helping her learn how to float. Canadian-born man Henry Frederick Tanskanen, 59, claims he took cat Valium and drank Vodka on the day he committed the crime, a court heard. Tanskanen, who once worked at Emerald Hospital as a wardsman, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on April 27 to one count of indecent treatment of a child under 12. The offence took place in a swimming pool at a motel complex in Rockhampton in March 2022. Tanskanen moved the girl’s swimmers aside and then touched her genitals. The child disclosed the offending to her mother the next day. He said Tanskanen was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and post traumatic stress disorder. Mr Ahlstrand said his client had a history of using marijuana and opioids, particularly after a fall in 2001, and had a longstanding problem with abusing alcohol. The court heard Tanskanen had worked in the jewellery trade after studying gemology at university and moved to Queensland’s Gemfields and worked at the Emerald Hospital as a wardsman. He then moved to the Rockhampton region and worked for Livingstone Shire Council for a period. Judge Horneman-Wren, who described Tanskanen’s actions as predatory, sentenced him to nine months prison, suspended after serving two months with an operational period of 18 months.