A Kimberley man has been sentenced to six years and eight months’ jail for impregnating a child under the age of 13 and indecently dealing with another.
WARNING: This story contains details of child abuse some readers may find confronting and distressing.
The court heard the man, who earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual penetration of a child under 13 and four counts of indecent dealings with a child under 13, committed the offences in the West Kimberley between 2022 and 2024.
The ABC has chosen not to share the name or age of the perpetrator, or the locations where the offences happened, to protect the identity of the victims involved.
The indecent dealing offences occurred while one of the victims was at a home he was house-sitting for a sleepover.
The court was told while on bail for this incident, he raped another child who had been or was formerly “under his care”, which led to her becoming pregnant.
The man has been sentenced in the District Court at Broome. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)
During the sentencing on Monday, Judge Belinda Londsdale said the maximum penalty for sexual penetration of a child under 13 was 20 years in prison, while indecent dealing with a child under 13 years carried a 10-year maximum penalty.
“Your two victims were young girls who had either been in your care or were actually in your care,” Judge Lonsdale said.
“You really have no remorse and no insight into your offending.”
‘Predatory’ behaviour
The court heard the victim who was raped was under the man’s care for a period of time via a Department of Communities placement.
It was unclear whether the incident occurred during this time under the man’s care or “shortly after”.
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When the child became pregnant, she did not tell anyone who the father was.
The pregnancy was terminated at 28 weeks, and she was forced to give birth to the stillborn baby.
The court heard the perpetrator called the victim on the phone several times while she was giving birth.
DNA testing confirmed the paternity, at which point the victim “tearfully confirmed” the man was the father of the baby.
A statement from a child protection officer described the victim as a “shy and timid girl”.
The perpetrator has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison, backdated to April 2024. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)
Victim woke to man touching her
In relation to the indecent dealing charges, the court heard the victim was attending a sleepover with a friend at the house the perpetrator was looking after.
The girl and the man were lying on a mattress watching television when the victim fell asleep, and later woke to the perpetrator touching her, kissing her and pulling down her pants.
Support for young people and familiesThe Butterfly Foundation: National helpline 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673), 8am-midnight (AEST/AEDT), 7 days a week ReachOut Australia: Confidential online peer support for young people and online resources for wellbeingHeadspace: Centres in each state and territory or check out eheadspace for online supportThe Kids Helpline: 24-hour support on 1800 55 1800Lifeline: 24-hour support for all Australians on 13 11 14
She got off the mattress and went to the bathroom.
The court heard he contacted her several times after the incident via Snapchat.Â
On one occasion, he messaged that he would “impregnate her”.
The girl blocked him and reported the incident to police a short time later.
Judge Lonsdale told the perpetrator there was a “predatory” and “grooming” aspect to the offending.
“You probably would have had sex with her if she had not got up and moved,” she said.
“You claim that she created opportunities to spend time alone with her, but it seems to me that she was looking for a father figure.”
The man was sentenced to a total of six years and eight months in prison and will be eligible for parole 2028.