Shortcut: My Predator Has Been Released From Prison - Australian True Crime

Summary

Australian True Crime: "Shortcut: My Predator Has Been Released From Prison"
Date: March 9, 2026
Host: Meshel Laurie
Guest: Alesha (Victim/Survivor)

Episode Overview

This episode of Australian True Crime revisits the story of Alesha, a survivor whose childhood sexual assault case stayed unsolved for 26 years before her perpetrator, Sterling Bauer, was captured and convicted. Eight years after the original episode, Alesha returns to update listeners on her life, the release and supervision of her offender, and her reflections on the Australian judicial process for sexual offenders. The discussion delves into post-conviction realities for both survivors and communities, focusing on the impact of offender release.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Alesha's Journey Since the Conviction

Life Changes
- Alesha shares that she is now a single mother to two daughters, highlighting the complexities and heightened vigilance she feels as a parent post-trauma ([01:37]).
  - “Having two daughters has been quite tricky. Wanting to go to sleepovers and things like that and you just always wary.” – Alesha, [01:42]
Parental Fears and Tighter Boundaries
- Both Meshel and Alesha discuss the shift in attitudes about children’s safety, sleepovers, and independence compared to their own childhoods ([01:55]–[02:46]).
  - “It’s funny, I find that when I was a kid, we were at sleepovers literally every weekend. And now kids don't do them. And I think it's parents like us who just go, nah.” – Meshel, [01:55]

The Offender’s Conviction & Release

Sentencing and Imprisonment
- Sterling Bauer received a six-year non-parole sentence and served the full time ([03:18]).
  - “He got six years for non parole and he ended up serving his full six years.” – Alesha, [03:18]
Feelings Post-Conviction
- Alesha reflects that she didn’t anticipate the aftermath of his eventual release, initially feeling closure but then facing renewed anxiety upon his reintroduction to the community ([03:28]–[04:07]).
  - “You don't actually think about when he's released…When I came in to the podcast, you sort of felt like it was done. That's it.” – Alesha, [03:30]

Supervision Orders & Risk Assessments

Interim and Full Supervision Orders
- Upon release, Bauer was subject to a four-month interim supervision order due to being classified as an immediate to high risk for reoffending, then moved to a “farm jail” with strict movement restrictions ([04:07]–[05:21]).
  - “They still posed him to be immediate to high risk of reoffending…He hadn’t been active in any [rehabilitation programs].” – Alesha, [04:14], [04:22], [04:52]
Further Court Proceedings
- In September 2021, a four-year supervision order was imposed.
- Alesha actively participated in court sessions, learning about additional offending behavior (such as stalking and exploitation) revealed in proceedings ([07:58]).
  - “If I wasn't involved in the court case, all I get told is the result... I want to know how they came to whatever result it is.” – Alesha, [06:46]
  - “If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have known his other crimes.” – Alesha, [07:43]
Contradicting Expert Testimony
- At a 2025 review, the prosecution’s psychologist assessed Bauer’s risk as “moderate to high,” while the defense insisted on “low risk.” The judge ultimately lifted the supervision order in May 2025, ahead of its scheduled end ([11:03]–[13:16]).
  - “The judge has revoked the offender's supervision order, which means he's no longer subject to the supervision order.” – Alesha quoting correspondence, [12:49]

The System, Its Flaws, and Survivor Impact

Lack of Ongoing Notification
- With the end of the supervision order, Alesha is no longer on the victim’s register and will not be informed of Bauer’s movements or any future offenses ([13:16]–[13:33]).
  - “I'm not on the victim's register anymore.” – Alesha, [13:33]
  - “They don't have to alert you if he moves back to Melbourne…” – Meshel, [13:30]
The Emotional and Practical Aftermath for Survivors
- Alesha reflects on her mental health, the persistent sense of loss of her identity, and lack of support, contrasting it with the welfare available to offenders ([14:34]–[15:46]).
  - “The biggest thing that I get angry and upset about … I never got to know the person who I was supposed to be. I've always been the girl that was raped. And that's what hurts the most.” – Alesha, [14:34]
  - “He's had all this access to all these people that could help change him. I've had access to no one. It's so unfair.” – Alesha, [15:31]
Reporting Encouragement
- Despite her difficulties, Alesha strongly urges other survivors to report, emphasizing the necessity of engaging with the system, imperfect as it may be ([13:38]–[14:17]).
  - “I don't want this, me telling my story to turn anybody off, wanting to report...people need to know, because I had no idea.” – Alesha, [13:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Systemic Risk
- “If you reckon he's ready for release, move him in next to your place. Or your grandkids house.” – Meshel, [05:34]
On Impact and Identity
- “I never got to know the person who I was supposed to be. I've always been the girl that was raped.” – Alesha, [14:34]
On Supervision Orders
- “For whatever reason, the judge just revoked it.” – Alesha, [12:51]
Confronting the Offender in Court
- Alesha describes the jarring experience seeing Bauer unguarded and free in court:
  - “He was sitting directly in front of me…and it's him, it's him.” – Alesha, [10:08]

Important Timestamps

[00:54] – Reflection on the original investigation and conviction
[01:37] – Alesha’s life changes post-conviction
[03:18] – Details on offender’s sentence
[04:07] – Discussion on interim supervision orders and “farm jail”
[07:43] – Revelation of further offending in court
[10:08] – Encountering Bauer in court post-release
[12:49] – Notification of supervision order revoked
[13:30] – Discussion on “victim’s register” status and lack of future notifications
[14:34] – Alesha’s reflection on identity and impact

Episode Tone and Language

The dialogue throughout is candid, raw, and at times vulnerable. Both Meshel and Alesha speak informally but with deep gravity, openly discussing the emotional toll and the often unsatisfactory nature of justice for sexual assault survivors.

Support resources are provided at the close of the episode, encouraging anyone affected to seek help.

Transcript

A (0:00)

The following podcast contains accounts of child sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. This is Australian True Crime with Michelle Laurie. Last week we reissued an episode from 2018, one of our earliest episodes, in fact, in which Alesha told us about the childhood sexual assault that became a 26 year cold case. The good news was that her offender, Sterling Bauer, was captured and convicted for the crime. Alicia joins us today on the podcast and also on the YouTube channel to give us an update on what's happened since then and the whereabouts of her offender. This is Australian True Crime. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast is created, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation. So it's been such a long time. I can't believe it.

B (0:54)

Eight years.

A (0:55)

And it was a sort of a jubilant episode in the end because it was all about your pushing after 20 something years, asking the police to open 26 to reopen the case. And you got a conviction so rare. We know the statistics in Australia.

B (1:13)

100% terrible. And especially after such a long time.

A (1:16)

Yeah. So if you're listening or watching this podcast and you haven't heard the previous one, the last one that we put out, which was a replay of your first interview. Yes, I would suggest you do, because in that episode you did speak very candidly about what happened to you when you were a little girl.

B (1:31)

Yep.

A (1:32)

When you were seven. What has happened since then? Tell us about what's been going on in your life for the last seven, eight years.

B (1:37)

Well, I'm now a single mum.

A (1:40)

Okay.

B (1:40)

So I had a relationship breakup.

A (1:42)

Me too. Single mum.

B (1:43)

Yeah. So, you know, that in itself is quite tricky. Having two daughters has been quite tricky. Wanting to go to sleepovers and things like that and you just always wary.

A (1:55)

It's funny, I find that when I was a kid, we were at sleepovers literally every weekend. And now kids don't do them. And I think it's parents like us who just go, nah. Or a lot of kids seem to be allowed at my place. I think because I am a single mum. Yep.