Man ‘didn’t show characteristics of a sexual predator’

Man, now 21, had sex with then 14-year-old girl at a sports field between January-March 2014, court told

A 21-year-old man who had a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl aged 14 when he was 19 did not exhibit any of the characteristics of a sexual predator, a barrister told the Circuit Court in Tralee yesterday.

The man, who cannot be named at this stage, was also a low risk of re-offending, Anthony Sammon, defending, said.

The relationship which included sex at night in a sports field was discovered by the girl’s father after he read her diaries. He had been concerned about her change in behaviour.

He alerted gardaí and social services also became involved, Tom Rice, prosecuting, said.

The girl, now aged 17, read out her own victim impact statement yesterday. She said she struggles on a daily basis with what occurred.

“My childhood was abruptly taken away from me,” she said.

She was depressed and angry that someone felt it was okay to do what they wanted with her body, and mind; she is facing years of recovery, the court heard.

There was physical and mental abuse; he would manipulate her, he would tell her she was fat, he would also say her family didn’t love her.

“He was cruel… and I suffered from an eating disorder because of this abuse,” the girl said. She now feels guilty for the pain she caused her family. The teenager said she missed out on a lot of school and her drive and goals were taken from her.

The pair met through Facebook in July 2013 and after face-to-face meetings by October, they were engaged in sexual intercourse between January and March 2014.

The young man has pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement. Seven sexual acts were set out in the indictment, all of which were mentioned in the diary.

They included “defilement of a child” that is of sexual intercourse, with a person under the age of 15 , contrary to section 2 (1) of the Criminal Law ( Sexual Offences) Act 2006 and they occurred mainly at the same sports pitch, all on dates in and between January and March 2014. The accused is to be sentenced on three counts.

“There is no doubt that any reading of the diary would indicate it’s written by a very unhappy child, experiencing various problems,” Mr Rice said. He said the diary “also discussed her developing relationship” with the accused.

Mr Sammon requested the involvement of the probation services rather than a custodial sentence, saying at the end of the day it was a relationship between two teenagers, even if it did run foul of the criminal law age factors.

“Clearly because of age differential, one would be concerned. Age parameters are clearly set in criminal law, but one does live in the real world and it’s clear to anybody that a great deal of sexual activity does take place among young people, regardless of legal parameters,” he said.

The counts of defilement carry a life sentence and the assault a maximum of 14 years in jail.

Judge John Hannan, remanding the accused on continuing bail, asked that the psychological report carried out on the accused, and be given to the girl and her father.