Mareeba man Xaidyn Thomas Zuvela, 21, pleads guilty to using the internet to lure 13yo girl

A Mareeba man has been sentenced in Cairns District Court for encouraging a 13-year-old girl to meet with him and have sex.

Mareeba man Xaidyn Thomas Zuvela, 21, pleaded guilty to using internet to procure child under 16 for sex in Cairns District Court on May 24. Picture: Supplied

A young man preyed on a 13-year-old girl, urging her to meet him and have sex, Cairns District Court has heard.

Mareeba man Xaidyn Thomas Zuvela, 21, pleaded guilty before Judge Paul Smith to using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act.

Crown prosecutor Emily Thambyah said Zuvela and the victim were known to each other via younger siblings and he developed sexual conversations with her.

“She declined his advances for sex and to meet in person,” Ms Thambyah said.

Someone took screenshots of the messages and reported the matter to police, but when interviewed at Atherton, Ms Thambyah said Zuvela diminished his behaviour saying others had access to his phone during that period.

Defence barrister Tim Grau furnished a psychologist’s report outlining that Zuvela had allegedly been sexually abused, had witnessed domestic violence including his father hitting his mother over the head with a hammer, and that his mother had died following a 10-year cancer battle just months before the offending began.

“He was looking for companionship and support,” Mr Grau said.

“He says ‘if you were my age, I would want to do these things to you’,” he said.

Judge Smith asked if Zuvela was working and Mr Grau said he had worked at Mareeba Subway but quit because he wasn’t getting enough shifts.

Mr Grau said Zuvela wanted to get into the mining industry and was doing relevant courses.

Judge Smith noted rumours spread in the town that Zuvela was having sex with the girl, but they were untrue.

“You downplayed your role – normally you would have to go to jail for this, actual custody, deterrence looms large in this,” Judge Smith said.

“You now accept responsibility … you are not a drug user, you are still very young, no previous convictions, an early plea of guilty.

“I think you should get a job, sitting around all day not doing much doesn’t do much, does it,” Judge Smith remarked, adding he was impressed by Zuvela’s plans to get into mining.

He sentenced Zuvela to 12 months in prison to be served as an Intensive Correctional Order.

Originally published as Mareeba man Xaidyn Thomas Zuvela, 21, pleads guilty to using the internet to lure 13yo girl