Sean Joseph Fellowes sentenced for carnal knowledge of a child under 16

A Sunshine Coast man who abused a 13-year-old in a Maroochydore gym told the underage girl he was “going to hell anyway, it’s fine”, while planning their meeting.

Sean Joseph Fellowes leaves Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Sunshine Coast hospitality worker who pleaded guilty to abusing an underage girl at a Maroochydore gym has learnt his fate in court.

Sean Joseph Fellowes, 22, appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday, November 13, where he pleaded guilty to one charge of carnal knowledge of a child under 16.

The court was told the offences had occurred in January, 2022.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks told the court Fellowes met the complainant, who was 13, at a Maroochydore gym before contacting her on social media.

“The defendant spoke to the complainant about his age, thinking she was about 17 to 19, she told him she was 14, elevating her age by some two months,” Ms Marks said.

“He told her his correct age which was 21, she told him she was under 16 and that the age gap was too much.”

Ms Marks told the court when the complainant told Fellowes she was 14, he replied “I’m going to hell anyway, it’s fine”.

The court was told Fellowes and the 13-year-old girl then arranged over Snapchat to have sex at the gym.

Ms Marks told the court the pair had continued to message each other, discussing the possibility of another “meet-up”.

“He continued to persist in engaging with that sexualised communication with her, it is also concerning there was further continued discussions about a potential meet-up afterwards,” Ms Marks said.

Solicitor for Fellowes, Anna Smith, told the court the 22-year-old had been ostracised from the gym community and had canceled his membership after other members heard from the complainant what had happened.

“He was ostracised, having to leave the gym because he was called so many things by all of the members at that time,” Ms Smith said.

District Court Judge Glen Cash told the court he found there to be exceptional circumstances in Fellowes’ case, excusing him from serving any time behind bars.

“There was no complaint from this young girl, when she told someone else what had occurred the matter was eventually reported to police, the complainant told her sister she was fine with what had happened,” Mr Cash said.

Fellowes was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and no conviction was recorded.