Nicholas Corey Schmidt pleaded guilty to rape

The identity of a 28-year-old man with a “sexual interest in children” and “high risk of reoffending” can be revealed after a young victim spoke up.

Nicholas Corey Schmidt, 28, pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child, common assault and rape when he faced Maryborough District Court on Thursday.

A predator with a “sexual interest in children” had an ongoing unlawful relationship with an underage girl, culminating in a rape which brought his offending to light.

Nicholas Corey Schmidt, 28, pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child, common assault and rape.

Crown prosecutor Seamus McManus said Schmidt had been sexually involved with the underage girl for a period of two years.

The two had first met in person and then talked online, Mr McManus said.

Schmidt was living by himself, and the girl had gone to his home, Mr McManus said, and from the first encounter it was “immediately sexual”.

Schmidt asked if he could have sex with the girl and she said no but performed another act.

Mr McManus described the offending as “persistent and protracted”.

“The routine was she would go to his house almost every day and they would engage in sexual... intercourse,” he said.

Schmidt told the girl not to tell anyone, knowing his actions were illegal and taking steps to try to hide it.

He had also had the benefit of secrecy in the home environment he had living by himself, Mr McManus said.

Mr McManus said Schmidt had a “sexual interest in children” and the purpose of Schmidt’s conduct towards the victim was his own sexual gratification.

In regard to the common assault, Mr McManus said that had happened early in the relationship when Schmidt had pushed the girl against the wall because she had touched or moved his video games.

The offending only stopped when Schmidt arranged to pick the girl up and after driving to their “usual spot” in the car, performed a non-consensual act which constituted the count of rape.

She had returned home and engaged in self-harm in the wake of the incident, Mr McManus said.

The girl had then disclosed to a number of people what had happened.

Schmidt had been several years older than the girl at the time and the offending had involved unprotected sex, Mr McManus said.

He had spent 348 days in pre-sentence custody.

The court heard Schmidt still had the support of his parents.

He had been diagnosed with ADHD as a child.

Schmidt had completed high school and a number of certificates and had been running his own business mowing lawns, landscaping and home maintenance.

Alcohol had previously been a problem for him, and he’d been on a mental health care plan, the court heard.

Schmidt had self-medicated by using cannabis after being diagnosed with depression.

He had attempted to sign up for a sex offenders’ program, but that would only be available post sentence, the court heard.

Judge Deborah Richards said after meeting the girl, Schmidt began chatting with her online.

“The offending occurred in secret,” she said.

“She would get into your car and you would go for a drive.”

Judge Richards said Schmidt was a high risk of reoffending.

She took into account the fact that Schmidt had been working.

In relation to maintaining a relationship, Schmidt was sentenced to five years in prison and in relation to the rape, two years in prison, which was cumulative.

A parole eligibility date was set for February 3, 2027.

The time he had spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.