Tye Hooper guilty of indecent treatment of teenage boy

A beloved Ipswich photographer with strong ties to central Queensland has been jailed for indecent treatment of a 15-year-old boy.

A popular photographer with thousands of Instagram followers is set to spend the next four months behind bars after pleading guilty to the indecent treatment of a child.

South Ripley man Tye Randall Hooper, 30, who also has strong ties to the central Queensland town of Blackwater, faced Ipswich District Court on Wednesday for sentence on four counts of the indecent treatment of a child aged under 16 in June 2020.

Crown prosecutor Amanda Robinson this week told the court Hooper’s offences were committed against a 15-year-old boy.

Details of the offence cannot be published to protect the identity of the victim, save that Hooper was intoxicated when he committed the disturbing acts.

Barrister Stephen Kissick submitted to the court special circumstances existed for Hooper such that he should not serve any actual time in custody.

Psychology, mental health and medical reports were tended to the court showing Hooper had completed a 12-week program to address his alcohol misuse.

South Ripley man Tye Randall Hooper, 30, has been jailed for his offending involving a teenage child.

Mr Kissick said although alcohol was behind the sexual offending Hooper accepted that this in no way justified his behaviour.

“It is correct in the doctor’s report that it was out of character and unexpected behaviour. There were no circumstances of grooming,” Mr Kissick said.

Mr Kissick said Hooper’s personal circumstances of diagnosed adjustment disorder, maladaptive coping mechanisms, underlying depression and anxiety, and work-related stresses should be taken into account.

“This man is not paedophilic and is generally pre-social,” he said.

Judge Dennis Lynch QC said the teenager’s victim impact statement, and that of his mother, showed that he was clearly distressed.

This had affected him psychologically and also his schooling.

Judge Lynch accepted Hooper’s remorse was genuine and that he had gained insight into his offending.

Despite this, Judge Lynch found no exceptional circumstances existed.

He sentenced Hooper to a two-year jail term, to be suspended for three years after he has served four months behind bars.