Four-year prison term for Randell

HOBART, AUG 13: Australian Test cricket umpire Steve Randell was jailed for four years by the Supreme Court here today for 15 sexual assault charges against young girls.

The 43-year-old school teacher was convicted by a jury on Tuesday of molesting and fondling nine primary school girls aged 10 to 12 while he taught at a school in the Tasmanian town of Burnie between 1981 and 1982.

Passing sentence, Judge Peter Underwood told the court that Randell8217;s brazen actions indicated he had felt free to treat the girls as his sexual play things.

He said Randell was guilty of serious paedophilia and not isolated, impulsive acts and the court had a clear duty to send a message to people that it would protect children.