A BENDIGO teenager charged with the rape of a 14-year-old girl has allegedly been “aggressively” grooming other younger girls on Facebook, a court has heard.
The 18-year-old with an intellectual disability, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was released on a non-custodial supervision order in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The court heard the accused had persistently pursued a 14-year-old girl for sex for several months, before she “reluctantly” agreed to engage in oral sex.
The girl made a statement to police, which she subsequently withdrew when the pair entered a two-week “sexual relationship” which ended in a pregnancy scare.
She stopped responding to his messages when she found out he had allegedly been “grooming” a 12-year-old girl online.
The man allegedly threatened to skin her dogs and “bash her stomach with a stick” after she stopped speaking with him. She then went to police for a second time.
The second alleged victim had been pursued on Facebook and was subjected to “a barrage of sexually explicit” texts before she was also allegedly raped.
She reported the matter to police after receiving a message from the accused which stated: “Do you want to earn $400 and a smoke?”
The man was arrested earlier this month.
Police seized his phone, which allegedly contained messages relating to the grooming of the 12-year-old in Bendigo.
The court heard there are open investigations involving alleged “aggressive predatory behaviour” towards multiple other girls, aged as young as 12 and 13.
Police questioned the man as to why he targeted young girls. He allegedly responded: “I don’t know, I can’t help it”.
Both alleged victims remain “in fear” of the accused, and police strongly opposed bail with concerns he would continue to pursue young teenage girls on Facebook.
The man’s defence counsel told the court it would be unsuitable for him to be placed in adult custody given his mental health issues.
He will re-appear in court later this year.
Adam Holmes
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
From Adelaide to south-west Victoria, Bendigo to Tasmania, I've provided in-depth stories in politics, environmental affairs, issues facing disadvantaged communities, legal affairs and much more. Contact me at adam.holmes@examiner.com.au or on Twitter at @adamholmes010
