The County Court of Victoria has sentenced a former respected pastor, Michael Peele, to six months’ immediate imprisonment, as part of a total three-year sentence for sexually abusing three young girls, his granddaughters, during the 1990s.
The sentence was delivered in August 2025, following a jury conviction on multiple historic abuse charges, and revealed a disturbing breach of trust within both family and community settings.
The offending occurred between 1992 and 2000, which involved three granddaughters who were aged between three and eight years at the time, his abuse took place in locations where the children were entitled to feel safe, including his family home and the church where he held a pastoral role.
The offences ranged from indecent acts to the serious charge of incest, the latter involving digital penetration of one granddaughter while she was isolated and vulnerable.
Following the convictions, it was revealed that Peele had been employed in various roles at Belgrave Heights Christian School and Upwey High School during the mid-2000s, including as a part-time chaplain until his resignation in 2010.
Despite these positions, no complaints or reports of misconduct were made during his employment at these schools, and authorities confirmed no investigations were underway at that time.
At 86 years old, Peele entered the sentencing hearing with significant health issues, including a history of triple bypass surgery, heart failure, osteoarthritis, chronic neck pain, hearing impairment, and other age-related ailments.
His defence argued that these factors, combined with his old age and lack of prior convictions, should weigh heavily in favour of a non-custodial sentence.
The medical reports submitted to the court detailed the strain that imprisonment would impose on Peele’s already fragile health.
Despite these mitigating factors, County Court of Victoria’s Judge, Pardeep Tiwana underscored the seriousness of the offences and the lasting impact on the victims and their families.
Mr Tiwana noted the profound betrayal of trust, especially given the familial relationship and the power imbalance involved, the judge also emphasised the necessity of a custodial sentence to reflect the gravity of the crimes, send a strong denunciatory message to the community, and act as a deterrent to others.
Peele was sentenced to a total effective term of three years, with six months to be served immediately and the remaining two years and six months suspended for three years.
This sentence balances the need for punishment with recognition of his health and age, while also ensuring community protection through ongoing supervision.
Peele was further declared a serious sexual offender under Victorian law, requiring lifetime registration and strict reporting obligations to Victoria Police, with penalties for any breaches.
The court also took into account the significant delay between the offences and prosecution, a factor largely driven by the victims’ trauma and the challenges in coming forward after many years.
The judge stated while this delay added some degree of additional punishment, it did not diminish the seriousness of Peele’s actions, moreover, Peele’s family has since disowned him and severed all contact, and he currently lives alone, significantly reducing any risk of reoffending.
The case has raised broader concerns within the community and the institutions where Peele worked.
Both Belgrave Heights Christian School and the Truth and Liberation Church have publicly condemned Peele’s conduct and reaffirmed their commitment to child safety standards, in line with Victorian Child Safe Standards.
The schools emphasised no complaints had been made against Peele during his tenure, and that his offences were historic and unrelated to his time working in educational settings.
Following the sentencing, members of the victims’ extended family expressed a complex mixture of relief and frustration, while acknowledging the significance of a custodial sentence at Peele’s age, they voiced a desire for a longer period of imprisonment given the profound and enduring impact of the abuse on their family.
The case has underscored the ongoing need for vigilance and robust child protection policies within both religious and educational institutions.
Peele will begin serving his sentence, having already spent 20 days in pre-sentence detention.
His lifetime registration as a serious sexual offender will require him to comply with strict reporting requirements, ensuring ongoing monitoring by law enforcement.
Any future breach of these conditions may result in the activation of the suspended portion of his sentence or additional penalties.
