Kingaroy ex-serviceman faced court for ‘emotionally abusing’ child with lewd messages

A 14-year-old girl was compelled to take legal action after an innocent attempt at friendship with an elderly ex-serviceman turned sinister, spiralling into “emotional abuse” with a string of sexual messages.

A 14-year-old girl was forced to go to the police after a friendship with an elderly man turned sinister, spiralling into “emotional abuse” with a string of sexual messages.

Standing before Kingaroy Magistrates Court, Charles Barry Dobbs, 72, pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause violence to the schoolgirl.

After helping him set up an Instagram account in September last year to allow him to communicate with her, Dobbs began sending the girl sexual messages.

“Messages such as you loved her body, you wanted her body next to you, and asking her if she'd had sex,” Magistrate Mark Howden said.

“I‘d describe the offending behaviour, during the course of the facts being read to me, as grooming behaviour.

“It is very serious conduct indeed.”

Between September 23 and November 30, Dobbs sent a string of offensive messages to the young girl, including telling her that he was going to visit her in “crotchless knickers.”

On October 21, the defendant asked the teenager if she’d ever had sex. After she replied “no”, he told her maybe she would some day soon and that she was a “hot woman” who “deserved to be loved softly”.

After she told him to stop, Dobbs apologised, but messaged her again just two days later, joking about jumping into bed with her.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens said while it was not a violent offence, the defendant’s behaviour toward the young girl was emotionally abusive.

He was placed on a $1000 good behaviour bond and two years’ probation.

“This kind of behind it is very concerning for a man of your age. Particularly, somebody who has never been in trouble for anything like this in their entire life,” Mr Howden said.