NDIS worker preyed on vulnerable clients, court hears

A Queensland court has heard shocking details about how a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) support worker abused his position of trust to prey on two female clients.

Trevor Noel Mutch appeared before the Maroochydore District Court for sentencing on Monday afternoon.

Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual abuse.

The court heard the 51-year-old had been working to support a 15-year-old girl who was partially blind and suffered multiple mental health conditions.

Mutch was employed under the NDIS to support the girl, with tasks that included picking her up from school.

Crown prosecutor Alistair Tonks told the court the support worker committed sexual acts against the girl several times a month between August 2023 and January 2024.

The acts included inappropriate touching and kissing, but not sexual intercourse.

"The complainant stated that she wanted him to do this to start with but then felt uncomfortable," Mr Tonks said.

The court heard Mutch bought the girl clothes and a phone, which her mother discovered — prompting the matter to be brought to police

Added trauma for client

Mutch also pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault relating to an incident in July 2023 involving a 22-year-old client from the Gympie region.

The woman had an intellectual disability, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.

The court was told Mutch had been drinking heavily at the woman's home when he began touching and kissing her.

"She asked him to stop and pushed him away … she went to her room and the defendant followed her and tried to kiss her again," Mr Tonks said.

"She told him to stop but the defendant ignored her and pinned her arms to the bed so she couldn't move and kissed her again."

The prosecutor said later that day the woman needed to go into town to drop off items, but Mutch was too drunk to drive.

The woman ended up driving, during which time the support worker continued to kiss and touch her despite her objections.

"She pulled over into a service station and sought refuge in the toilets where she called her father for help," the prosecutor said.

In a victim's impact statement, the woman said the experience had "long-lasting" effects.

"I have PTSD, depression, shame, I'm scared to go out in public," the woman stated.

'Disgusted in himself'

Defence barrister Ed Whitton told the court his client's life had started to "unravel" about 15 years ago following the death of his brother and the breakdown of his relationship.

Mutch had been a heavy drinker, regularly consuming a litre of rum at a time.

"The best explanation that he can come up with is he was just desperately lonely and dealing with that loneliness by drinking," Mr Whitton told the court.

In sentencing, Judge Michael Byrne KC told Mutch that both complainants were "vulnerable".

He said the victim impact statement from the 22-year-old woman clearly showed she had been "greatly affected".

"It can only be hoped that she will mend to the point of being able to move forward without being affected by your conduct," the judge said.

"Although there is no victim impact statement from the young lady [15-year-old] and although she appears in the statement of facts as a willing participant in much, but not all of the conduct, I have no doubt that you have affected her also.

Mutch was given a head sentence of six years but will be eligible for parole in August 2027.

The judge took into account his early plea and 122 days spent in pre-sentence custody.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission issued a two-year Banning Order against Mutch in October 2024, which prohibits him from engaging in any paid or unpaid work for providers and participants.

A spokesperson said Mutch was sanctioned given the "serious nature" of the allegations, and the commission would now consider the court findings.

"The commission can take additional regulatory action where there may be harm to participants. This may include varying a temporary ban to a permanent ban," the spokesperson said.