Mark Jason Dunnett spared jail for sexually abusing Thomas Harris when he was 16 years old

A CANCER survivor who was sexually assaulted by his scout troop leader has confronted his abuser in emotional scenes outside court, labelling him a cancer.

A CANCER survivor who was sexually assaulted by his scout troop leader has confronted his abuser in emotional scenes outside court, labelling him a cancer.

Thomas Harris, who has given The Advertiser written consent allowing his identity to be published so he can share his pain, told Mark Jason Dunnett he hoped the predator would suffer for his crimes.

The District Court on Thursday spared Dunnett, 46, from an immediate jail term, after he pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse against Mr Harris.

Mr Harris was 16 years old at the time of the offending between July 2008 and February 2009.

He told The Advertiser he was disappointed Dunnett had received a suspended sentence but expected the outcome.

“At the end of the day he is on the (sex offenders) register and that has got to stay with him forever,” he said.

“He cannot do what he has done to me to anyone else and that is the main thing.

“I expected to have some closure but I have not yet. I am left sitting in the mess that he left me in.”

Mr Harris, now aged 23, said he did not accept Dunnett’s guilty pleas as a sign of remorse or contrition.

“He knew he was caught badly and thought he could get off lightly,” he said.

In sentencing, Judge Gordon Barrett said Dunnett had maintained contact with Mr Harris after the then 13-year-old left Dunnett’s scout troop.

He said Dunnett took Mr Harris on trips to Clare and Port Adelaide and allowed him to stay at his house, buying him alcohol and prescription medication.

“It was sexual offending against a vulnerable victim after a long period of grooming,” he said.

Judge Barrett said Dunnett had held positions as a trained nurse and a volunteer with SA Ambulance Service.

He said Dunnett had displayed a lack of insight into his behaviour.

Judge Barrett sentenced Dunnett to two years and two months’ jail with a non-parole period of one year and one month.

He suspended the sentence on condition that Dunnett enter a $1000 bond to be of good behaviour for three years.

As Dunnett left court, Mr Harris confronted him and called him a cancer, telling his tormentor he hoped he would suffer for his offending.

Outside court, Mr Harris’s mother, Melonie, said she did not understand how Dunnett’s wellbeing was more important than that of her son’s.

Mrs Harris said Dunnett was in a position of trust and had betrayed her son and her family.

“Clearly, and to my disgust, there is no difference to pleading guilty and being convicted than not being guilty because sadly the sentence is the same,” she said.

“Where was Tom’s psych report, where was everything he has gone through? All they care about is (Dunnett) and they have put him out there ... it is just not fair.

“Tom has the life sentence.”