A young Charleville man lured a teenage girl to a vacant house that he had set up before having sex with her

A Charleville father who lured a teenage girl to a vacant block was sent to jail after pleading guilty to carnal knowledge of a child under 16.

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A Charleville father was 21-years-of-age when he had unprotected sex with a girl aged 13 after taking her to a vacant house.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the girl, pleaded guilty to carnal knowledge with or of a child or children under 16 years.

Judge Michael Burnett told the Charleville District Court that on the night in question, the man arranged to meet the girl at the park near the pool in Charleville.

“There you kissed and shortly after you invited her to join you to attend a vacant house not far from the park,” His Honour said.

“You climbed into that house through a bedroom window.

“You prepared a place in the lounge room and invited her then to have sex with you.”

The girl later told her grandmother who reported it to police.

Prosecutor Cameron Wilkins expressed the damage that the event caused the teenage girl.

The girl’s mother told police she had trouble sleeping, lost weight and now seeks counselling.

Since the age of 18, the father appeared before the court on 10 occasions for various offences, largely involving violence and domestic violence, Judge Burnett pointed out that drug use was a major issue.

He noted there was a litany of domestic violence offences against the young girl.

“ … including behaving towards her in a most discreditable way,” Judge Burnett said.

“Now, you might think yourself as a man, but this behaviour is quite unmanly. Nobody punches women the way you did.

“Nobody treats their partners the way you have treated your partner. It is deplorable behaviour and you should be utterly ashamed of yourself.”

In determining the aggravating factors, the court heard the father had failed probation orders, community service and suspended sentences and ultimately landed himself in jail and experienced violence himself.

His Honour said it would be more beneficial for the community that he worked, paid taxes and cared for his toddler rather than be locked up in jail.

“It costs us a lot more to have you in prison than it does to have you out there working and paying taxes and being a positive member of the community,” he said.

The father, who was already behind bars from a separate offence, was given nine months jail in court on February 23.

It was suspended on March 20 for a period of 18 months.