Scot David Towle in Rockhampton court for carnal knowledge with teen

A convicted child sex offender who told probation officers he was not interested in doing courses to address his behaviour went on to have sex with a child half his age while he was high on drugs.

Scot David Towle, 28, pleaded guilty this week to one count of carnal knowledge in Rockhampton District Court. He was convicted in January 2020 of two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16. He was resentenced July 2022 for breaching the 2020 orders by relocating to Victoria for a year without reporting this as required under the Child Protection Act.

A convicted child sex offender who told probation and parole officers he was not interested in doing courses to address his offending behaviour went on to have sex with a child half his age while he was high on drugs and alcohol.

Scot David Towle, 28, has been a reportable offender for much of his adult life and has been resentenced for his crimes against children after reoffending prior to pleading guilty this week to one count of carnal knowledge in Rockhampton District Court.

He was convicted in January 2020 of two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and was resentenced July 2022 for breaching the 2020 orders by relocating to Victoria for a year without reporting this as required under the Child Protection Act.

Child sex offenders are also required to report any contact with children, mobile phones they use and their social media accounts.

The court heard Towle has nine counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations to be mentioned in Rockhampton Magistrates Court next week.

The Morning Bulletin found 14 Facebook profiles under Towle’s name with photographs of himself and other information heard in court on September 1, when he was sentenced for the carnal knowledge offence.

Crown prosecutor Ryan Godfrey said this conviction would lead to Towle being placed on a 10-year reportable period.

He said Towle was at a Queensland residence sometime in June or July 2022 where he and the 13-year-old victim were socialising.

Mr Godfrey said the victim and Towle were in a bedroom with a third person with the child lying on the bed on her phone while Towle played PlayStation.

He said after the third person left, Towle closed the bedroom door and laid on top of the child.

Mr Godfrey said he then got up, removed his and her pants before engaging in sex with the child.

He said the unprotected sex stopped when someone came to the door and said someone had arrived to pick up Towle.

The court heard Towle told police various lies, including that he had never been alone with the child and that he did touch her ribs because she said they were sore.

Mr Godfrey said Towle had previously told probation and parole he was “unwilling to engage in intervention services to address his offending pathway”.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said her client, who was sexually abused as a child, attended special schools and left during year 12 due to bullying about his speech impediment and learning difficulties.

She said Towle had worked at McDonalds at one point, had never lived independently and doesn’t have a drivers licence.

Ms Marsden said Towle had three sisters and four brothers with one of his brothers and their partner in court in support.

The court heard Towle started abusing alcohol when he was 15, marijuana at 18 and progressed to methamphetamines and cocaine.

Ms Marsden said her client, in his words, says he knows he needs to change his friend group in order to maintain his sobriety.

Judge Jeff Clarke said Towle’s relevant criminal history was significantly concerning with regards to the risk of reoffending.

He sentenced Towle to 2.5 years prison, suspended after serving 401 days, declared 401 days presentence custody as time already served and set a five-year operational period for the sentence.