Tarquin Vincent Grott in Maroochydore District Court for sex with girl, 14

A Sunshine Coast father-of-four has spent his 28th birthday in court after having sex with a 14-year-old girl he was selling weed to. Find out what happened:

A Cooroy father-of-four who preyed on a 14-year-old girl after selling her drugs has been jailed for his “vile” and “abhorrent” crimes.

Tarquin Vincent Grott, now 28, will spend another five months behind bars after pleading guilty in Maroochydore District Court to one count of having carnal knowledge of a child under 16 and breaching his suspended sentence.

Judge Nathan Jarro told the court on Monday, May 9, 2022, that Grott and his fiance were in an open relationship when they were living together and were intending to arrange a threesome in July of 2019.

The complainant was 14 at the time and was introduced to Grott, then 25, and his partner through a mutual friend.

Over a period of time, the complainant and her boyfriend would visit Grott most days to purchase and smoke marijuana.

On one of the visits, the 14-year-old girl, her boyfriend and another friend spent the day smoking at Grott’s house on July 31, 2019.

During the evening, the complainant and Grott cuddled and tickled each other, the court was told.

Later that same night, Grott asked the girls to sleep in the bed with him and his fiance.

The complainant agreed but her friend declined.

“The complainant got into bed with (Grott) and the fiance and the three of them hugged,” Judge Jarro said.

“(Grott) and the complainant then engaged in consensual sex which ended when (Grott) ejaculated, you did not wear a condom.”

Tarquin Grott pleaded guilty to having carnal knowledge of a child under 16 in Maroochydore District Court.

The next morning Grott and the teenage girl watched cartoons together.

The court heard the complainant had told Grott she was 14 so he was aware of her real age at the time.

He attended the police station in August, 2019 and denied having sexual intercourse with the teenager.

Defence barrister Nathan Turner said his client had no prior convictions for sexual offences and had entered a plea of guilty at the first available opportunity.

Mr Turner said Grott was a victim of violent abuse and sexual abuse in his “traumatic” childhood.

Grott was also homeless for a period of time and reverted to using various different drugs including heroin.

The court heard Grott was born in Maryborough and his four children were all to different women.

Judge Jarro said the community viewed any sexual offending against children as “abhorrent” and “vile”.

“Children are vulnerable and they do not have the emotional maturity to provide proper and informed consent to such activity,” he said.

Judge Jarro said Grott was on a suspended sentence at the time of the offending which he was serving for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm in 2016.

Grott, who was sentenced on his 28th birthday, had already spent 163 days in presentence custody which was declared as time already served.

Judge Jarro ordered that Grott serve the rest of the suspended sentence being two years, five months and 19 days.

He will be eligible for parole on October 24, 2022, and convictions were recorded.