Troy John Pyle jailed over sexual abuse of teenage girl

A Lara painter whose “corrosive” abuse of a 14-year-old girl left her traumatised, has shown no remorse and continues to deny his offending, a court has heard.

Troy John Pyle leaves Geelong Court earlier this year.

A Lara painter’s “corrosive” abuse of a 14-year-old girl has landed him years behind bars.

Troy John Pyle appeared in the County Court on Wednesday via videolink from Marngoneet Correctional Centre in Lara.

He was found guilty by a jury, following a trial earlier this year, of eight charges – one count of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16 and seven counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16.

Judge George Georgiou jailed Pyle for a maximum of six years, with a non-parole period of four years.

The abuse took place across the span of about four months in 2019, the court heard and the charges were based on Pyle sexually touching and kissing his 14-year-old victim and on one occasion, digitally penetrating her.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Georgiou referenced three victim impact statements, by the victim, her sister and mother.

As a young girl, the victim felt “confused, scared and shocked”.

She said she has become a recluse, sees a therapist every one or two weeks and is on antidepressants.

Now a mum herself, she feels over protective of her child.

In her statement, the girl’s mother told the court she felt like a failure and the pain she felt for her daughter was beyond anything she’d ever felt.

“I will never in my life be free of the guilt and misplaced sense of responsibility for the pain this has caused my daughter and my family,” she wrote.

The victim’s younger sister said she felt sick when she had to go into the police station to make a statement, and no longer feels she can talk to her sister about her problems, as what her sister faces is much worse.

Judge Georgiou said it was “clear” that Pyle’s conduct had a “deep and long-lasting effect”.

Several matters of mitigation put on Pyle’s behalf were referenced by Judge Geogiou in his sentencing remarks.

These included that Pyle had a strong work history, a strong support network and no prior convictions for sex crimes.

Judge Georgiou said a psychological report about Pyle that found he had mild alcohol use disorder, was a low risk of reoffending and did not have “entrenched sexual preference in female adolescents”.

However, Pyle had continued to deny the offending to the psychologist, the court heard, and Judge Georgiou concluded he showed no remorse.

Several character references highlighted Pyle’s “many otherwise good qualities” the court heard, however Judge Georgiou said “these qualities are quite at odds with the offences (Pyle) committed”.

He said the harm in Pyle’s actions was “well borne out by the victim impact statements” and

Pyle’s moral culpability was high, as over the protracted period of offending he had “ample opportunity” to reflect and stop.

Nothing put on Pyle’s behalf lessened his moral culpability, Judge Georgiou said.

Pyle has already spent 201 days in custody, reckoned as time served and must register as a sex offender for life.

Originally published as Troy John Pyle jailed over sexual abuse of teenage girl