Jacob Alexander Connolly pleads guilty to sex crimes against underage girls

A 28-year-old man will remain in jail for the next year after grooming one teenage girl over Instagram and raping another, all while claiming to be a teenager himself.

A 28-year-old man will remain in jail for the next year after grooming one teenage girl over Instagram and raping another, all while claiming to be a teenager himself.

A 28-year-old man will remain in jail for the next year after grooming one teenage girl over Instagram and raping another, all while claiming to be a teenager himself.

Jacob Alexander Connolly faced Hervey Bay District Court in July over multiple charges stemming from his offending against the two underage girls in 2023, published sentencing remarks from Judge Brad Farr reveal.

One of his victims was a 12-year-old he was in a “messaging relationship” with for some time.
The court heard Connolly originally told the girl he was 14 before changing his age to 18 “neither of which was true”.

Judge Farr said they soon began calling each other on Instagram daily, including instances when Connolly said he wanted to have sex with the girl “in graphic terms” and later asked her to masturbate while on a video call.

Jacob Alexander Connolly faced Hervey Bay District Court in July over multiple charges stemming from his offending against the two underage girls in 2023, published sentencing remarks from Judge Brad Farr reveal.

Naked photographs were also sent between Connolly and his victim.

He then organised for her to travel from her Gympie home to the Fraser Coast.

She snuck out of her home through her window and headed to the bus depot, only to be told she could not travel without her parents’ consent, the court heard.

The girl then called Connolly, who claimed to give that consent – after which, the suspicious depot employee called police.

It was later revealed in a pretext phone call Connolly had ultimately travelled to Gympie to pick the girl up.

Shortly after Connolly met his second victim through friends.

The court heard she was also under 16, and Connolly lied claiming to be 17.

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Connolly pleaded guilty to using an electronic communication device to procure a child under 16, three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, possessing child exploitation material, penile intercourse with a child under 16, and rape. Photo: Hayden Johnson / Fraser Coast Chronicle

Only a few days later he asked the girl to move in with him and she agreed.

During the ensuing weeks Connolly first had sex with the girl and then days later digitally raped her.

The court heard his offending left his victims with trust issues and anxiety.

One girl and her family had moved town as a result.

The court heard his criminal history included convictions in 2017 for torture and acts intended to maim, disfigure, or disable.

He was jailed for seven years.

Only one year earlier, in 2016, he had been convict for robbery.

He was on parole at the time of these latest sexual crimes.

Judge Farr said Connolly had “some significant issues” of his own.

A psychological report tendered to the court said the 28-year-old had “lifelong and permanent disabilities, being ASD, ADHD, OODD and OCD”.

Connolly pleaded guilty to using an electronic communication device to procure a child under 16, three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, possessing child exploitation material, penile intercourse with a child under 16, and rape.

He was sentenced to five years’ jail and will be eligible for parole on September 7, 2025 owing to 198 days already served in pre-sentence custody.