Magician admits more sex offences

Franky Houdini has admitted sex offences with three more girls.

AN IPSWICH magician and children’s entertainer is facing jail after admitting sex offences against three more underage girls.

The guilty plea comes just weeks after a jury found Franky Houdini, 36, guilty of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl and making a pornographic film with her.

The well-known magician, comedian and escape artist had denied those charges, claiming he believed the girl was at least 16 at the time.

But yesterday Houdini pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court to the indecent treatment of two girls aged six and 15 and a further charge of possessing child exploitation material relating to another 15-year-old girl.

The details of the cases were not revealed in court yesterday. Houdini will be sentenced for these offences at a later date.

However, The Queensland Times can reveal the six-year-old’s mother pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 earlier this year after she let Houdini sexually assault her daughter.

The woman, who cannot be named, picked up her daughter from school in 2006 and said she had a “surprise at home”.

Prosecutor Sal Vasta told the court that when they arrived home Houdini – dressed in his magician’s outfit – leapt out and said “boo!” before they watched a pornographic movie.

The group took off their clothes and Houdini kissed the young girl on the mouth and lay on top of her.

Mr Vasta said Houdini asked the woman if she had a problem with what he was doing and she replied “no”, but soon after ordered her daughter to leave the room.

The woman, who wept in court, told police she had no memory of the incident but pleaded guilty on the basis of her daughter’s evidence.

The woman, who had no criminal history, was given a 12-month suspended jail term.

Defence barrister Peter Sloane said the woman could recall little about the incident and was “shattered” she allowed it to occur.