Chilling CCTV shows Kmart kidnapper leading girl from the store

Sterling Free in a photo on Facebook and (right) in the CCTV footage. CREDIT: Facebook and Seven News.

Chilling CCTV has been released of Kmart kidnapper Sterling Free leading a seven-year-old girl from the North Lakes store in North Brisbane before sexually assaulting her.

Sterling Free, 26, yesterday appeared at Brisbane District Court and pleaded guilty to deprivation of liberty, taking a child for immoral purposes and indecent treatment of a child under 12 years, reported the Courier Mail.

Today disturbing CCTV of the incident has been made available.

WATCH IT HERE

The incident happened on December 8 2018, when Free lured the girl from Kmart North Lakes shopping centre in North Brisbane where she was shopping with her mum. He told the girl: 'Follow me.'

The installation fitter then drove her in his car to bushland where he sexually assaulted her. She was then driven back to North Lakes where he dropped her off near a car wash. Her mum later noticed a scratch mark on her girl's back and reported the offence.

Sterling Free will be sentenced on October 8.

Riah Matthews

Riah Matthews is the Deputy Editor for that’s life! She started her journalism career in the UK at the Nottingham Post before moving to Australia and working on that's life! and the podcast How I Survived. Her work has also been published in the Daily Mail, Chat, Woman, Pick Me Up, Take a Break, Real People and on Newidea.com.au