Busted: Local Coach on Child Sex Charges

James Lane

An 87-year-old Burpengary athletics coach has been charged with multiple child sexual offences following a major Queensland Police investigation, sending shockwaves through the local sporting community. Martin Roberts appeared in court on Tuesday, December 2, charged with three counts of rape, seven counts of indecent treatment of a child, and one count of unlawful carnal knowledge. He has been released on bail, with the matter adjourned to February 11 next year for a committal mention before Magistrate Kurt Fowler.

Queensland Police said Operation Xray Ironpath was established after a report was received in October of this year, prompting an extensive investigation by detectives from the State Flying Squad and the Sexual Crimes Unit. Roberts was subsequently arrested on November 20, with police alleging he used his position as a well-known sports coach in the Caboolture area to commit offences against three children under the age of 16. Investigators are examining an alleged offending period spanning from the early 1990s through to 2025.

“He’s finally got what he deserves.” - former athlete

Former athletes who trained under Roberts reacted bluntly to the news, with one saying, “he’s finally got what he deserves,” reflecting the anger and sense of reckoning felt by some within the local athletics community. Many described the arrest as confronting, given Roberts’ long-standing presence around junior sport in the region.

A woman who asked to be identified only as Jan, whose son trained with Roberts for nearly five years until 2024, described what she believes was a carefully and deliberately constructed false persona. She said Roberts claimed to have trained famous Olympians, including Cathy Freeman, a claim for which there is no reference in Freeman’s autobiography.

“He had constructed a whole false narrative” - Jan, whose son trained with Roberts

Jan alleged that Roberts appeared to target children from difficult family backgrounds or homes with less parental oversight, often offering lifts from school and, at times, taking students to his house.

Jan further alleged that at his home, Roberts would give students protein shakes. She says, “he could put anything in those,” highlighting her concerns about the lack of supervision and boundaries. She also said that while Roberts was living in Mackay, he would travel with young athletes to Brisbane for competitions without parents present, arrangements she now views with deep unease.

“He could put anything in those (protein shakes).” - Jan

Police are urging anyone with information related to Operation Xray Ironpath to come forward as investigations continue.