Two men who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl inside a modified van have been sentenced to prison. Clinton Parry Harris, 30, and Sheldon Todd Barron, 25, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual penetration of a child on the morning their trial was due to start at Geraldton District Court in Western Australia.
Attack planned through Snapchat
The court heard that Harris, who was 28 at the time of the 2024 attack, had groomed the victim over Snapchat. When the girl failed to board a bus Harris had bought a ticket for, he drove nearly 300 miles to collect her, bringing his then-23-year-old housemate Barron along.
Harris had removed the back seats of his van and replaced them with a mattress, according to ABC News. After giving the teenager cannabis, the group drove along the Brand Highway towards Perth. The tired schoolgirl lay down next to Barron before Harris pulled the vehicle over near Dongara, where he joined them in the back. Both men then repeatedly sexually abused the girl. Although the victim begged them to stop, the pair ignored her pleas and carried out a second assault after a brief pause.
Sentences handed down
Judge Lawrence Levy rejected claims that the men believed the girl was over 16, describing Harris as "reckless" for failing to verify her age after she expressed concerns about her father finding out. Harris was jailed for two years and eight months, eligible for parole in 16 months, after admitting three counts of sexual penetration of a child. Barron was jailed for two years and two months, eligible for parole in 13 months, after pleading guilty to four counts of the same charge.
Barron collapsed in tears against the dock as the sentence was handed down, while Harris showed no emotion. Judge Levy commended the victim's bravery, stating she was "ultimately blameless" and noting the attack had caused "profound and lasting" trauma to her family.
