Convicted West Australian child rapist gets more jail time for raping, recording 15yo girlfriend
A convicted child rapist will spend extra time behind bars after pleading guilty to repeatedly raping and recording his 15-year-old girlfriend when he was 23.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of sexually assaulting a teenager, nine counts of indecently recording her and also one count of possessing child abuse material.
The crime occurred in two Goldfields-Esperance towns between June and November 2023; Meanwhile, the man was out on bail for similar offenses against the victim and her sister.
The man, now 26, was sentenced in the Esperance District Court this month, with an additional 12 months added to sentences given to him for similar offenses against the girl and her sister, bringing his total sentence to six years and one month.
He will be eligible for parole late next year.
The man was not a “predator” as the victim was a “willing participant” in the crimes, the court was told.
The couple had a consensual relationship and now have a child.
Judge Gary Massey said despite the use of the term “voluntary participant” the victim was still a minor and unable to give informed consent.
Judge Massey said: “I accept that there was no element of harassment here.”
“What I mean by that is, you didn’t force him to do something he didn’t want to do, you didn’t discipline him.
“This is not a situation where you can be described as a predator.”
But he said the legislation aims to protect children from those who prey on them, but also from themselves.
“Because they don’t really have the life skills and experience to deal with these kinds of adult issues,” she said.
Judge Massey said the man’s offending was aggravated by the fact that he recorded several sexual interactions and he was granted bail with a protective condition that he not be in the woman’s presence.
“Recording events means there’s always a risk of community spread, even if you don’t want it to; sometimes it can happen accidentally,” he said.
“Plus, the person you’re recording has no idea what you’re ultimately doing with it, and that stuff can last a lifetime on the internet.”
Mr Massey gave the man credit for providing financial support to the victim despite the bail requirement and for not being separated from his child when it was born.
The court was told the man now has three children, one of whom is with the victim.
A psychological report stated that the man had a high sex drive and had difficulty developing supportive relationships due to fear of abandonment.
It was stated that he likely developed a relationship with the underage girl because it allowed him to feel “psychologically safer” and “more in control” than with a more mature woman.
Mr Massey said the man’s work history, including his time as an Aboriginal liaison officer, showed he had the capacity to become a legitimate, productive member of society if he wanted to.
“You can’t associate and engage with people under 16,” he said.
