‘Every parents nightmare’: Sunshine Coast surf coach Connor Lyons sentenced over years of child exploitation and abuse

Once celebrated as a trusted surf coach and mentor, a Sunshine Coast man could walk free in as little as six months after being sentenced for a sweeping series of child sex offences involving eight boys aged between seven and 11. With almost a year already served, 27-year-old Connor John Christopher Lyons will be eligible to apply for parole in June 2026. Lyons faced Maroochydore District Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to a total of 31 offences, including grooming, indecent treatment, exposing himself, making and possessing child exploitation material, damaging evidence, and using a carriage service to access abusive content. His fall from grace shocked the local community, which had long praised him for his coaching and mentoring of young surfers. Before his arrest, Lyons ran the “Connor Lyons Surf Experience,” offering lessons for children and adults, tutorials, overseas camps, and school holiday clinics. Parents and community members frequently recommended him online as a trusted instructor. Some of the victims’ families sat quietly in court as Judge Glen Cash delivered the sentence, describing Lyons’ actions as a “grave breach of trust” against boys who had seen him as a mentor and, friend. Trusted coach with years of predatory behaviour On Thursday, Lyons arrived in court wearing a light blue button-up shirt and holding a large envelope, including his handwritten statement. Because he represented himself, he was permitted to sit at the bar table rather than the dock. The court was told that Lyons had no previous criminal history. He had become deeply embedded in the community, befriending families through his surf school. The most extensive offending involved a 10-year-old boy. He regularly undressed in front of the boy, slept beside him, and on multiple occasions touched him, including placing his hands down the child’s pants while the boy tried to move away. He also performed oral sex on the child until he was told to stop. On one occasion, Lyons repeatedly hugged the boy as he slept, “massaged” him, sat on him while pressing his genitals against him, and filmed him nude on separate occasions. These disclosures triggered Lyons’ first arrest. One confronting account involved another 10-year-old boy who had been playing a video game when Lyons grabbed him and tried to masturbate him. The boy punched Lyons in the face and told him to go away. He didn’t disclose the incident until his mother saw media reports about Lyons and asked her son about him. Another boy, just seven, had his bottom grabbed twice during surf lessons, once for about a minute, before telling Lyons he’d had enough. Another child was exposed to Lyons’ genitals and had his bottom squeezed during a surf lesson. Two other boys had their bottoms squeezed during lessons, leaving them confused and distressed. For another boy, the offending included deliberate touching, getting changed in front of him, and molesting him while he slept. Lyons again touched and licked the boy on his genitals the next day until the child told him to stop. On separate outings, Lyons exposed himself to some of the boys. Online offences and evidence tampering Crown Prosecutor Rebecca Marks detailed that Lyons accessed child abuse material from 2022 through 2024 using hidden online networks. After being released on bail between December 16 and 18 last year, he deleted material from a hard drive before police executed a search warrant on December 18. He admitted the deletion immediately and, in his own words, told officers he would “get off” to the material. “He was very frank with police,” Ms Marks said. The court was told he had been watching child exploitation material since he was a teenager. Subsequent charges were laid in April 2025 as more boys came forward, many after their parents saw news reports of his arrest. “Every parent’s nightmare” The court heard several victim impact statements from children and parents. They spoke of nightmares, a loss of confidence, confusion, and struggles with self-worth. Judge Cash described the consequences as “profoundly devastating”, noting that the victims had lost “childhood innocence” and safety that “can not be returned”. He said Lyons had preyed upon families who trusted him, some for many years. “It’s every parent’s nightmare,” Judge Cash said. “I take full responsibility” Lyons delivered a short handwritten statement, thanking the court for allowing him to apologise to the victims and their families. “I understand the effect of my crimes ... I take full responsibility,” Lyons saidina statement. He told the court he planned to undergo treatment both during his time in prison and after his release. Judge Cash questioned him at length about his background, growing up in Toowoomba, attending school on the Sunshine Coast, working locally, and travelling internationally as a World Surf League competitor. Lyons said he had not experienced trauma, had supportive parents, and had not yet seen a psychologist. He acknowledged facing verbal abuse in custody and said he agreed with the prosecution’s submission of a five- to six-year head sentence. Sentence and release date Judge Cash emphasised the seriousness of the crimes and the impact it had on his victims. “They each feel keenly the betrayal of trust they had in you.” Judge Cash noted that Lyons’ early guilty plea, expressions of remorse, and full admissions worked in his favour. “You’re entitled to significant credit,” he said. Judge Cash sentenced Lyons to five years’ imprisonment, with eligibility for parole after serving 18 months. Having already spent 351 days in custody, Lyons may be released as early as June 18, 2026, if the parole board approves.