Leslie Paul David Long learns fate after sexually abusing a young girl and impregnating her

A Mount Gambier man who sexually abused a vulnerable homeless child, entering a relationship with her before having a child with the 16yo, has learned his fate.

A Mount Gambier man who took advantage of a homeless child who was leaving an abusive relationship — later impregnating and having a child with her — has learned his fate.

Leslie Paul David Long, 43, met his victim when he was 29 and she was between the ages of 14 and 15, with the pair often smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol together, the Mount Gambier District Court heard.

The court heard shortly after leaving a physically and sexually abusive relationship with another man, the victim was left homeless and couchsurfing when she met Long.

Leslie Paul David Long who sexually abused and impregnated a child has been sentenced. Picture: Arj Ganesan

During Judge Rauf Soulio’s sentencing remarks the court heard Long and the victim soon entered a relationship and when she was 16, the pair had “discussed having a child”.

“She had a birth control implant which she arranged to have removed from her arm,” Judge Soulio said.

The court heard the victim had a child with Long and the relationship ended when the child turned one.

Long was expecting to be sentenced in April this year, after he pleaded guilty to one count of persistent sexual exploitation of child.

However, the court found he should have pleaded guilty to an alternative charge.

Long later pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship.

The victim, now an adult, read out her impact statement earlier this year, telling the court she was “haunted” by the persistent abuse the accused inflicted upon her.

“I was a child, a girl that was lost, confused — you were 29 years old,” she said.

“Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest times in a woman’s life — I was terrified.”

The victim said his constant sexual demands and verbal abuse left her with a PTSD, anxiety and depression and she struggled saying no to sex in other relationships.

“When I do have the courage to say no, I’m terrified that my partner will be angry with me,” she said.

The accused’s victim said she drew strength from their son who wanted nothing to do with his biological dad.

“He is ashamed to be related to you,” the victim said.

Long’s defence lawyer Nick Healy previously told the court these historic charges were only brought forward after his victim heard “rumours” of the man beginning another relationship with a schoolgirl.

“He vehemently denies that he was ever in a relationship with a school-aged girl — other than the (historic) relationship he had with (the victim),” Mr Healy said.

Judge Soulio handed a four-year term of imprisonment, which was reduced by 15 per cent for an early guilty plea.

Long was sentenced to three years four months and 25 days imprisonment with a non parole period of one year and nine months.