Justin Hansen in court for child sex offence

A part-time volunteer pleaded guilty in Bundaberg to indecent dealing with of a child under the age of 16.

What began as a trial ended in a sentencing on Tuesday, with Bundaberg man Justin Hansen pleading guilty to unlawful dealings with a child under the age of 16.

Hansen, 39, appeared in the Bundaberg Supreme Court for what Judge John Allen called a “breach of trust.”

He was convicted and sentenced to 12 months probation for unlawfully and indecently dealing with a child under 16 years of age.

Crown Prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court Hansen was a part-time volunteer in Bundaberg when he met his then 13-year-old victim.

The court heard the pair developed a friendship and “regularly messaged each other”.

The court heard the offence was committed when Hansen placed a stepping stool in front of the child who then stepped onto the stool and proceeded to kiss Hansen on the lips.

Justin Hansen

“Mr Hansen did not resist or stop that incident from occurring,” Ms Friedewald said.

The court heard Hansen had previously denied all allegations, and denied being alone with the child.

It heard the child had suffered from emotional distress following the incident and had viewed Hansen “as a father figure”.

Defence lawyer Callan Cassidy said the incident was “very out of character for him and in unusual circumstances”.

Hansen had no prior criminal history, and Judge Allen considered this in his sentencing.

“The offending falls at the lowest of the range of seriousness,” he said.

Judge Allen considered the 20-plus year age gap between the child and Hansen, and said Hansen had failed to take responsibility for the relationship.

“You accept that it was your responsibility as an adult to ensure that offences such as this should not happen,” he said.

“It is true to say at the time the offences occurred you were in a position of authority.”

No conviction was recorded.