Teenager Jailed for Five Years for Rape Under 'Adult Time' Laws

A teenager who raped a 14-year-old girl in her bedroom in Far North Queensland has been jailed for five and a half years under Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws.

The offender was 16 when he attacked the girl in September last year. The Children's Court of Queensland heard that following a four-day trial last month, the now-18-year-old was found guilty of three counts of rape and two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16. He had pleaded guilty to a further count of indecent treatment related to the start of the offending event.

Attack Details

At today's sentencing hearing, Judge Tracy Fantin said the teenager had been drinking and smoking cannabis with another boy at the house before he attacked the girl. The victim had not consumed alcohol or drugs. Judge Fantin said the offender entered the girl's room during the night as she was trying to sleep.

"She was in her own bed and room where she should have been able to feel safe," she said. "You would have been under no illusion that she was not consenting."

Judge Fantin said the girl repeatedly asked him to stop, struggled and cried, but he continued to rape and assault her. After he left she ran to the bathroom and messaged a friend about what had happened. The offender later sent a text to the girl to apologise. She replied that she had asked him to stop and that he had sexually assaulted her.

Impact on the Victim and Offender

Crown prosecutor Michael Lehane said the offending "had a devastating impact" on the girl and her immediate family.

"Every aspect of her life has been affected," Judge Fantin said. "Her sleep, her emotional wellbeing, her confidence, her behaviour, her body image."

Defence lawyer Kelly Goodwin said his client, who cannot be identified, had "very supportive and caring parents". "Unlike many young people who come before this court, [the defendant] has had a supportive home life," he said. The man's parents sat in court and appeared upset as he was sentenced. Mr Goodwin said that support would continue when his client was released. He said his client had been expelled from school and fired from his job in the wake of the incident.

Sentence and Parole

The offender faced a maximum of 20 years' jail for the rape charges. He will serve his sentence in an adult prison and will be eligible for parole in December 2028.