Two men have been jailed after pleading guilty to raping a 14-year-old girl in the back of a van in Geraldton, Western Australia. Clinton Parry Harris, 30, and Sheldon Todd Barron, 25, were sentenced at Geraldton District Court this week.
Social Media Contact and Journey
Harris began communicating with the victim on Snapchat and paid for her bus ticket from Geraldton to Perth before driving the 440-kilometre journey when she failed to catch it, according to ABC reports. He travelled in a van which had its passenger seats removed and replaced with a mattress alongside roommate Barron.
After picking the teenager up, the two men smoked cannabis with her, at which point she lay down on the mattress and consented to kissing and oral sex. The vehicle was then pulled over and both men proceeded to sexually penetrate the 14-year-old multiple times.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Both prosecution and defence stated that the men "honestly and reasonably" believed they had obtained initial consent from the victim. But the teenager then asked the men to stop and they only complied for a short period before beginning sexual acts again, the court heard.
It was also suggested the men "honestly believed" the victim was over 16, but Judge Lawrence Levy said her concerns about her father discovering the Snapchat messages should have been a red flag about her real age. "In my view, the failure to make enquiries, particularly when you knew about [the victim's concerns] about the father was reckless," he said.
"It is clear the offending has had a profound and lasting effect on not only the victim but also her family," the judge added. "I want to make clear that the victim is ultimately blameless and in this case she should be commended in bravery for coming to the police."
Sentences Handed Down
Harris pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual penetration of a child between the ages of 13 and 16 and Barron pleaded guilty to four counts of the same charge. Harris was jailed for two years and eight months, and will be eligible for parole after 16 months. Barron was sentenced to two years and two months behind bars and will be eligible for parole after 13 months.
