Ballarat court house
A MAN sent a series of inappropriate text messages to his 15-year-old step-daughter, including saying he thought she’d put jellybeans in her bra, a court has heard.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday where he was supported by the complainant’s mother.
He pleaded guilty to one count of stalking.
The court heard that during a two-month period earlier this year the man, in his 50s, sent three sexual text messages to his step-daughter.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Kent said that on the first occasion the man told the complainant she had a “nice arse” after she ran from the shower to her bedroom in her underwear.
The second text included “you sure did give me a great look at your boobies”, referring to a family dinner.
In the most recent text, the man told his step-daughter, “I thought you were hiding jellybeans in your bra but it was your nipples”.
The man was arrested following the third text, where he made full admissions and confessed it was a “stupid mistake”.
Senior Constable Kent said the man had committed a breach of trust.
Defence lawyer Jon Irwin said the family unit was still in place, and that his client had simply made a huge error of judgement.
“He sent the messages in an atmosphere of banter and a teasing relationship in the house,” he said.
“You’ve got a (man in his 50s) that has really not amoved to the times.
“Twenty years or so ago people turned a blind eye to things like this, today you don’t.”
Mr Irwin said his client acknowledged were “completely and utterly wrong”.
The complainant’s mother told the court her daughter was back to normal.
“She knows (the man), she knows the mucking around,” the mother said. “She also sends him silly texts and things.”
Magistrate Stephen Myall sentenced the man to a two year good behaviour bond without conviction, and ordered he pay $1000 to the court fund.