Former Basketball SA referee Dana Whittaker jailed for indecently assaulting boy, 14

An ex-Basketball SA referee has learned whether she has to spend time behind bars, after being handed a lifetime ban for preying on a 14-year-old boy.

A former Basketball SA referee is behind bars after she abused her position to prey on a 14-year-old boy in the basketball community.

Dana Louise Whittaker, 25, was given a lifetime ban from Basketball SA after her vile offending came to light.

Whittaker was sentenced to one year jail, with a non-parole period of five months.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Whittaker, a stadium support at Basketball SA, was added by the 14-year-old victim on Snapchat and they exchanged sexual images.

Two days later, Whittaker touched him on the thigh and they kissed for about 10 seconds.
“You gave him a phone, this was against the wishes of his parents. They did not want him to have a mobile phone at that stage,” Judge Geraldine Davison said.

The court heard Whittaker and the victim continued to message on Snapchat before his parents became suspicious.

Dana Whittaker was jailed for indecently assaulting the 14-year-old boy. Picture: Newswire/Brenton Edwards

They sent a message to Whittaker, who admitted to them she had given the victim a phone.

Whittaker, of Woodcroft, was due to face trial in October, however she ended up pleading guilty to aggravated indecent assault of the aspiring teen basketballer.

A charge of aggravated procuring a child for sexual activity was withdrawn as a result.

The court heard Whittaker was fired from Basketball SA and given a lifetime ban as a result of the offending.

In their victim impact statement, the parents said their son had become withdrawn and depressed since Whittaker’s offending and was no longer his social bubbly self.

A psychologist opined Whittaker’s offending was sexually motivated and she exploited the victim’s sexual naivety to satisfy her unmet needs for sexual and emotional intimacy.

Whittaker’s counsel previously pushed for a good behaviour bond – the only other sentencing option available than immediate jail – due her relative youth, previous good character and remorse.

Judge Davison said if the kissing had been an isolated incident she would have determined a good behaviour bond was appropriate, however the background of uncharged sexual contact reduced leniency.

“Your offending represents an abuse of power that had been placed in you, not only by Basketball SA but also by the family of the complainant,” she said.

“Rather than abusing your power you should have been there to protect him.”

In a statement, Basketball South Australia said they welcomed the decision of Judge Davison to sentence Whittaker to a period of imprisonment.  

“The safety and wellbeing of our community is paramount,” they said.