Jackson Finselbach pleads guilty to child grooming

Police say a young man was already behind bars when he groomed a 14-year-old girl from within the walls of a Queensland jail.

A 20-year-old Caboolture man has admitted to grooming a minor for sex, allegedly while behind bars.

Jackson Finselbach appeared in Gympie Magistrates Court from Woodford Correctional Centre, where he pleaded guilty to procuring a young person for carnal knowledge and grooming a child under 16 to engage in a sexual act.

Finselbach hung his head low as he pleaded to the crimes which police say occurred while he was in jail.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell told the court the victim was a 14-year-old girl and the offences took place twice in 2020, once on November 13, and once between November 20 and December 11.

Jackson Finselbach in 2019, aged 18. Photo: Facebook

The court previously heard he was recorded on the phone talking about what “what he wanted to do” with the girl and that police had been present during a conference where they believed calls were being made to the girl.

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The court had also heard police could not prove the child was on the other end of the phone during the alleged calls or how old she was, but Finselbach knew she was under 16.

He was remanded in custody and his matter was transferred to the Brisbane Magistrates Court, where he will appear for sentencing on September 20.

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