A SEX offender who lured a child using secret messaging app Snapchat before sexually assaulting her has been sentenced to five years in prison in Tamworth District Court.
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The 29-year-old man from Tamworth in NSW's north west, who cannot be named for legal reasons, developed a close relationship with the child's mother and would regularly go on family camping trips with the victim.
About two years after the pair met, the offender was blocked by the victim on Snapchat.
After he demanded she unblock him, he began to send her photographs of him naked in bed and in the shower. The victim then blocked the man again until he added her on Facebook in November 2018 and began to talk to her.
The man sent the victim a pornographic video and sent numerous grooming messages to the victim including: "Brah, yous should get naked and play with each other lol"; "You no [sic] I'm not expecting sex off you or anything when I ask you to come round I just like cuddling you"; and "Love you beautiful" with multiple heart emojis.
During this time the offender's mother noticed some unusual behaviour between the 15-year-old victim and her son. The teenage girl would sit with her legs on him and had tried to kiss him on the lips.
In November 2018, the victim smashed a window in an argument with her mother and it was arranged that she would stay at the offender's house for the night where he lived with his mother and infant son.
After the victim arrived, he started to touch her so she left the room to be with his mother.
After dinner, the offender had a shower, put his son to bed and came back to find the victim was asleep on the lounge. He then started to touch her inappropriately and tried to get her to sleep with him.
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Later that night, the victim fell asleep fully clothed in his bed with the door open until she was woken up by a phone call from her best friend.
At that point, the offender came into the room, took a condom out of the drawer and undressed.
Court documents show the victim continuously tried to push him away as he sexually assaulted her, after which she got up and went to sleep in the lounge room.
He then texted her mother: "Do you wanna put up with [victim's name removed] yet?" at about 11:50am.
The offender will be eligible for release on parole in May 2022.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
