A woman has been jailed for a year and placed on the sex offender’s register for life after pleading guilty in the County Court to two counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16.
The court heard the woman was 26 and the boy 15 when they had sex at Altona beach and a hotel between September and November last year.
The woman also pleaded guilty to persistent contravention of an intervention order.
In July, 2014, the boy told his mother about his relationship with the woman after his mother saw sexually explicit messages on his Facebook page, the court heard.
The boy’s mother reported the matter to the police, who arrested the woman in August, 2014. The woman was bailed with conditions but continued to regularly contact the boy.
In November, 2014, the woman was served with an intervention order banning contact with the boy. In the next month, she sent him 1837 text messages.
Judge Johann Patrick, in sentencing, said the woman knew the boy’s age and was aware of his vulnerabilities.
“A child of 15 is not emotionally equipped to deal with the complex nature of a romantic and sexual relationship with someone who is 26,” Judge Patrick said.
“You engaged in this relationship for purely selfish reasons – to satisfy your emotional and sexual needs. I accept that, despite the age difference, there was a degree of mutuality in your relationship but it is very important that the courts impose sentences which are appropriate punishment and severe enough to make it clear that those who engage in sexual activity with children below the age of consent can expect to go to jail.”
The woman was sentenced to 12 months in jail and a three-year community correction order requiring her to do 200 hours of community work.
She must also undergo treatment programs and report as a sex offender for life.
