Former MasterChef Australia contestant Paul Douglas Frost has been sentenced to at least 24 years in jail for sexually abusing children while working as a swim coach in Sydney. The 48-year-old was found guilty of 43 offences involving 11 children at a swimming school in Sydney’s southwest between 1996 and 2009. Judge Sarah Huggett at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court handed down a maximum sentence of 32 years, stating that Frost’s crimes spanned over a decade and targeted children as young as 10.
During the trial, it was revealed that Frost had deliberately created an environment that facilitated his abusive behavior. He normalized discussions about sex among his students, encouraged sexual activity between them, and engaged in explicit acts in the school’s changing room and storage room. Judge Huggett noted that Frost not only manipulated his victims but also deceived their parents, who trusted him with their children’s safety.
Many of the victims were unaware that Frost’s actions were wrong or feared that they wouldn’t be believed if they spoke up. The abuse started when the youngest victim was nine or 10 years old and continued until the oldest reached the age of 16. Testimonies from the victims detailed Frost’s manipulation, which involved explicit discussions about sex and masturbation, ultimately leading to inappropriate physical contact.
One victim described how Frost had created a culture where such discussions were considered normal. The victim admitted going along with it as a way to fit in and be accepted by Frost. He believed that talking about sexual things was just part of being one of Frost’s “cool kids.”
Judge Huggett characterized Frost’s crimes as opportunistic, impulsive, and spontaneous. She emphasized that he had corrupted the healthy and normal sexual development of each victim he targeted. The judge commended the victims for their courage and dignity in providing evidence in court and expressed hope that the conclusion of the proceedings would offer them some form of closure.
Frost will be eligible for parole in June 2047, after serving 24 years in prison.
