WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT

A man who attempted to rape a seven-year-old child in 2023 has agreed to be castrated as part of a plea deal.

On Monday, Thomas Allen McCartney, 37, pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted rape of a child under the age of 13 in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

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As part of the plea deal, he agreed to undergo both surgical and chemical castration, as well as serve 40 years in prison.

In 2023, a mother walked in on McCartney while he was “engaging in sexual conduct” with her seven-year-old child. McCartney then left in a vehicle, and police later arrested him in East Houston, Texas, KPLC reported at the time.

Vernon Parish District Attorney Terry Lambright said this horrific crime should have never happened.

“Thomas McCartney is a predator that needs to be locked away from others in our community,” Mr Lambright told People.

Now that McCartney has pleaded guilty, it can be revealed that he is considered a “tier three” registered sex offender in the state of Louisiana and had previously been convicted of attempted aggravated rape in 2011.

Louisiana recently passed legislation which made it the first US state to permit physical (surgical) castration as a penalty for sexual offences.

The new laws came into effect at the start of August, and allow judges to order people found guilty of particular sex crimes against minors to undergo surgical castration.

The permanent procedure involves the removal of reproductive organs, either the testicles or ovaries, ultimately stopping the body from producing sex hormones.

These laws are rare, but do exist in other places including Madagascar, the Czech Republic, Kaduna State in Nigeria.

Surgical castration is controversial amongst international human rights groups, with Amnesty International having previously urged Madagascar to repeal its legalisation on both chemical and surgical castration.

Other states, including California and Florida, already allow chemical castration as punishment for some sex crimes. This is also controversial.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.