High-ranking army cadet avoids jail over child sex offences

A HIGH-ranking member of the Army Cadets, who sent a junior cadet indecent photographs of himself and persuaded her to reciprocate, has avoided jail after pleading guilty to child sex offences.

A HIGH-ranking member of the Army Cadets, who sent a junior cadet indecent photographs of himself and persuaded her to reciprocate, has avoided jail after pleading guilty to child sex offences.

Army Cadets warrant officer Bryce Harrison was 19 when, in July and August 2017, he began exchanging messages of a sexual nature, including indecent images, with a 13-year-old female cadet over Facebook Messenger, the District Court has heard.

The Adelaide man pleaded guilty to aggravated communicating with the intention of making a child amenable to sexual activity, aggravated possessing child exploitation material and possessing child exploitation material.

Judge Joanne Tracey described Harrison’s offending as “very serious”.

“It is clear from reading the messages that you were cajoling her to overcome her plainly expressed concerns about what you wanted” she said.

The victim’s aunt became aware of the messages on August 31, 2017 and the matter was reported to police.

Analysis of Harrison’s electronic devices revealed 189 child exploitation images, the court was told.

Of these, 32 images constituted aggravated child exploitation material and 157 constituted basic child exploitation material.

“You are said to be ashamed and remorseful for your conduct and concerned understandable abut the effect your conviction for these offences will have on your future,” Judge Tracey said.

However, she said Harrison “exploited the complainant’s immaturity and vulnerability”.

“(The complainant) was subject to your authority within the army cadets,” she said.

“Your actions are said to have totally devastated her and destroyed the plans she had for the future.”

The court heard Harrison was “unable to explain (his) offending other than to say things got out of control”.

Judge Tracey on Thursday sentenced him to two years and one month in jail, with a non-parole period of 12 months but suspended the custodial term on the condition Harrison entered into a two-year good behaviour bond.

“You have no criminal history, are in employment and are otherwise of good character,” she said.

“Perhaps it is your own immaturity that contributed to your own lack of appreciation of the seriousness of what you were doing.”

The court also heard Harrison was also a deputy team leader with the SES but he was suspended from the role when he was charged.