A 19-year-old teenager was sentenced to two years’ jail, suspended after four months, over five charges. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to child abuse.
A teenager who raped three girls and indecently assaulted a fourth has already left custody after he was ordered to spend four months behind bars. Two of the attacks took place at a school.
The now-19-year-old, who legally cannot be named due to his age at the time of his crimes, was sentenced by the ACT Supreme Court in May 2025, but the details were only published earlier this week.
He was 15 and dating the first girl in 2020 when he went into her bedroom, pulled down her pants and had sex with her even though she tried to push him off and get him to stop.
“He just raped me. And he wouldn’t stop until he was done,” she said.
This girl later told the court she would never forget him as he is the father of her young child.
“I can’t put into words how much I love this little boy, but at the same time, I hold so much resentment because of how he came to be,” she said.
Next, the then-16-year-old was in a music room at school in 2022 when he tried to kiss the second girl before she told him, “I can’t do this, I won’t”.
He asked her to give him oral sex and she refused, but he pushed her up against a wall and had sex with her without her consent. He only stopped when he heard a teacher approach.
Later that same year, the teen invited the third girl to hang out at his home, but once he got her into his bedroom, he pushed her onto the bed and said, “Can we f-k?”
The girl repeatedly said “no” and pointed out that his mother was nearby, but he still took her clothes off and had sex with her without her consent.
The last attack the teen had to be sentenced for was the first to occur as it took place when he was 14.
The fourth girl had been sitting in an English class at school with the then-14-year-old teen when he put his hand on her thigh. She told him to stop and he moved his hand away, but put it back a couple of minutes later.
The teen fought his charges in a Supreme Court jury trial in 2024 in which he was found guilty of five charges and acquitted of others.
He was found guilty of three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of committing an act of indecency without consent.
Acting Justice Peter Berman said the teen displayed “a disturbing attitude” towards young women.
“His focus on his own sexual gratification led to him ignoring the need to ensure that his sexual partners were consenting to what he was doing,” he said.
He noted that when the teen was interviewed for a court report, he said things that displayed an attitude demonstrating he did not appreciate the gravity or even the wrongfulness of what he had done.
Acting Justice Berman said the teen became sexually active at a young age, as the first time he had sex was when he was 12. This incident occurred in a public toilet with a girl of a similar age.
The judge said there was no suggestion that his background led to him having an inadequate appreciation of the need to obtain consent before having sex, but it was important to recognise his immaturity.
“His decisions to act the way he did must be looked at in the context of his age, understanding and ability to regulate his behaviour,” Acting Justice Berman said.
Acting Justice Berman also found the teen did not have actual knowledge that the girls were not consenting to what he was doing, but was instead reckless to that fact.
He thought it best that the teen spend a short time in custody, followed by a lengthy period under supervision.
The teen was convicted and sentenced to a total of two years’ jail, to be suspended in early September 2025, after he spent four months behind bars. He must then complete a 21-month good behaviour order.
He has no contact with the child he had with the first girl at her request.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
Make him go away ! View