A 20-year-old man allegedly used a fake identity on a social media website to offer two girls gifts in exchange of sexual photos.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And after Harmon Littlewood told police in April he had created the fake account five years ago, they allegedly located more than 400 adult and child pornography images on his mobile telephone.
The Snake Valley man on Thursday successfully applied to have his charges heard in the Magistrates Court, if he pleads guilty, instead of a higher court.
The Ballarat Magistrates Court was told Littlewood allegedly posed as a 14-year-old when he contacted the girls on a messenger website and via his mobile phone in November, 2017 and February, 2018.
The Asperges syndrome sufferer allegedly started romantically talking to the girls, aged 14 and 16, before the messages became sexual with him telling them to send sexual photos of themselves.
Police allege for two days from November 21, Littlewood requested the 14-year-old girl send him photos of herself with specific instructions.
The court was told the alleged requests included photos of the teen in her school uniform, of her bending over, wearing no bra, with her legs open and with objects in her genitals.
Littlewood allegedly told the girl he would gift her with a rose and take her out for dinner.
After feeling scared, the girl eventually showed her mother the alleged messages and a mobile phone number was linked to Littlewood.
He allegedly used another fake identity in February to contact the 16-year-old girl, asking her to send him a photo of her in her school dress.
Police allege Littlewood offered the teen $10 for a ‘selfie’ and a further $10 for more sexual photos. After the girl sent him 30 photos, he allegedly said he would pay her $300.
The court was told money was deposited into the girl’s bank account.
Littlewood then allegedly demanded she send two nude photos or he would post the images on Facebook. A second threat was allegedly made.
The court was told police received information on April 19 Littlewood wanted to report he had received photos of nude females.
The prosecution said Littlewood admitted he blackmailed his victims and said, “it was wrong what I have done”.
He allegedly told police he felt like he had missed out on being 16 and 17, and described himself as calculative and manipulative.
Defence lawyer Adrian Paull said it was conceded the matter was serious but the sentencing range of the Magistrates Court could deal with it appropriately.
He said the court should consider sentencing his client to a youth detention centre.
Magistrate Ron Saines said imprisonment must be considered in this case and any imprisonment would not exceed two years, while a community corrections order would be of the same duration.
He said the Magistrates Court sentencing range was suitable to deal with the case and adjourned it to later this month.
Littlewood faces four charges, including possessing child pornography and encouraging a child under 18 to engage in sexual activity.
He is yet to plead guilty to the offences.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
