Split Enz Co-Founder Phil Judd Sentenced for Stalking Children

Phil JuddPhil Judd, a founding member of Split Enz and the Swingers has admitted to being sentenced for stalking children. The 56-year-old, who lives in the Melbourne, Australia suburb of Eltham, reportedly pretended to be a 17-year old boy on Facebook and introduced himself to three young school girls.

Yesterday, Judd admitted to stalking the children -- who are siblings -- since 2004 when the oldest was 12 years old and the youngest was eight. According to statements made by the girls and their mother to police, the former rocker would spy on them as they traveled to and from school.

Judd, who also supposedly photographed the sisters at their pony club, confessed to the Herald Sun yesterday that he was in fact sentenced at the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court in March of this year, avoiding a prison term by receiving a suspended sentence and paying a $2500 fine.

"I only had a crush on one of them -- I'm just a silly old man," he told the paper. "This has been blown way out of proportion. The only mistake I made was getting on to Facebook one night after a few too many drinks."

In that disturbing Facebook exchange provided to police, Judd wrote, "I find all u ... girls beautiful and very special. I am not a pervert ... I am an aesthete ... I was a popstar once."

Well, that last part is kind of true. Judd formed Split Enz with Tim Finn in 1972 and although he left the band in 1977, he went on to front a short-lived but successful trio known as the Swingers. With that group, Judd released the 1981 New Wave hit 'Counting the Beat.'

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