Jae Kahn Crawford: Former heroin addict pleads guilty to sexually assaulting teenage girl
A Southport District Court heard that the 37-year-old man has ‘come a long way’ after sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl at a Gold Coast train station.
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A former heroin addict with a lengthy criminal record has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl at Nerang Railway Station while giving her a hug.
Jae Kahn Crawford, 37, appeared in Southport District Court wearing a monitoring ankle bracelet from a separate offence, for his sentencing on Wednesday.
Crawford, who the court heard was homeless and struggling with heroin addiction at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual assault.
The court heard that a 15-year-old girl was walking out of the Nerang train station when Crawford, who was sitting on a bench with a friend, made a comment about what the teenager was wearing on the afternoon of August 24, 2022.
The young girl stopped to have a conversation with Crawford and his friend and accepted a cigarette from the pair.
When the teenager got up to leave, she gave both Crawford and his friend a hug. When Crawford hugged the girl, his hand ran down her lower back and touched her right butt cheek.
The girl left and called her parents to pick her up from the station but Crawford came up to her where he apologised and asked for another hug.
When the victim got into her parents’ car, Crawford again approached to apologise – this time to her parents.
Crawford’s defence lawyer said that since the assault his client has been attending Narcotics Anonymous (NA), is five months clean of drug use and is now living with his mother, who he is caring for.
“He’s come a long way,” the defence said.
In his sentencing, Judge Rowan Jackson KC noted the seriousness of the charge but commended Crawford on his early plea of guilty.
He noted Crawford’s lengthy criminal history that consisted mostly of property offences which he said was indicative of someone with a drug problem.
He also commended Crawford on reporting to NA, staying five months off of heroin, and moving in with his mother.
“That’s not a small thing,” he said.
“The drug you have a problem with is heroin which is notoriously addictive.”
Judge Jackson sentenced Crawford to a six month jail term, wholly suspended for 18 months.
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Originally published as Jae Kahn Crawford: Former heroin addict pleads guilty to sexually assaulting teenage girl
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