Gold Coast nurse who targeted six teen girls to stay behind bars

A mental health nurse accused of having a foot fetish and targeting vulnerable teenage patients will stay behind bars after a magistrate called the matter “deeply disturbing”.

Father-of-three Derek George Jackson, 58, has been refused bail after being charged with 12 offences that allegedly occurred over nearly four years on the Gold Coast.

Jackson on Monday appeared in Southport Magistrates Court by video link, closing his eyes and shaking his head as the long list of allegations – including his alleged foot fetish – were detailed.

He is accused of using his trusted position to target six teenage girls, all of them patients and many treated through the Child and Youth Mental Health Service.

All of the girls were described as having complex mental health issues, including acute crises, suicidal ideation and serious self-harm.

The nurse was arrested on Saturday by detectives from the Gold Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit, following investigations into the alleged offending, between November 2020 and May 2024.

Prosecutor Jacinta Raven told the court Jackson’s conduct was not a momentary lapse but directed at highly vulnerable children.

Jackson allegedly had a predilection for “young slender girls” and stayed at their bedside with no clinical reason to be there.

Raven said the conduct could be summed up as “loitering in the children’s rooms”.

Jackson was allegedly sometimes found sitting on their beds or in a chair scrolling his phone while asking intrusive questions about their sex lives.

“The court is deeply troubled by the offences before the court,” magistrate Nerida Wilson said.

Jackson allegedly held a sexual interest in the girls’ feet, outlined in court as an alleged foot fetish and supported by cellphone downloads, search histories and messages.

Police said child exploitation material was found in his possession and Jackson also created such material.

One teenager described his behaviour as “disgusting, weird and creepy” and referred to him as a paedophile, the court was told.

One of the alleged victims was identified as a teen whose suicide sparked a landmark Queensland youth mental health care review.

Another of his alleged victims was killed in a motor vehicle accident.

Legal Aid lawyers told the court Jackson would contest the charges and did not enter a plea.

The court heard Jackson was stopped by detectives at an international departure point at Brisbane Airport as he was about to fly to Asia, claiming he was travelling for general dental work.

Authorities discovered he held two Australian passports, both current at the time.

The magistrate said she was satisfied there was an “unacceptable risk” he would both fail to appear and commit further offences if released.

Wilson refused bail, remanding Jackson to reappear on July 14 by video link.

Police urged anyone with further information to contact them.

Jackson formerly worked at Gold Coast University Hospital and with the community mental health team.

He was charged with 12 offences against six teenage girls, including stalking, indecent treatment of a child, sexual assault, abuse of office, possession of child exploitation material and creating child exploitation material.

A Gold Coast Health spokesperson said it was aware of the allegations involving a staff member and were co-operating with police.

“Immediate measures were taken, including contacting Queensland Police Service and removing the employee from the workplace, when this was brought to our attention,” the spokesperson said.

“We understand the member of staff has now been charged by QPS.

“As a values-led organisation, staff and patient safety is of the utmost importance to us, and we take these matters extremely seriously.

“We will continue to co-operate with QPS as this matter progresses.”

AAP

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732. Lifeline can be contacted on 13 11 14.

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