James Trethewey: Youth worker guilty of molesting teen boy

A Moreton Bay ex-private schoolboy and YMCA youth worker coerced and groomed his 15-year-old victim, a court has heard.

A Moreton Bay youth worker who attended one of Brisbane’s most prestigious private schools molested a 15-year-old boy repeatedly, a court has heard.

Warner man James Edward Trethewey, 26, an Old Boy of Brisbane Grammar School, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Thursday to eight counts of indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16.

The court heard the three assaults which made up the eight counts occurred at an address in Albany Creek, north of Brisbane, in 2013.

Trethewey was aged 18 at the time of committing the offences, while his victim was just 15.

The court heard there had been a “consensual, experimental” sexual relationship between Trethewey and his victim since 2007, which consisted of mutual masturbation, oral sex, and Trethewey showing his victim, aged just nine when the liaisons commenced, pornography.

James Edward Trethewey, 26, was sentenced in Brisbane District Court on eight courts of indecent treatment of a child under 16. Brisbane Thursday 29th July 2021 Picture: David Clark

His victim became uncomfortable with Trethewey’s behaviour after attending a school talk on consent, the court heard, at which point Trethewey’s conduct became more sinister as the teen distanced himself from Trethewey’s advances.

There entered a “degree of manipulation and coercion,” Crown prosecutor Michael Gawrych said, consisting of Trethewey promising it would be the last time they engaged in the sexual acts, giving his victim gifts, barring the boy from leaving locations and telling him to keep their relationship a secret or else they would both get into trouble.

The offending came to light when Trethewey became a manager at a YMCA outside school hours care.

His victim told his parents what Trethewey had done to him and expressed “anxiety” about his abuser working with children.

A formal police complaint was made in March 2019 and Trethewey’s Blue Card was suspended, leading to the termination of his employment at YMCA.

Barrister Simone Bain told the court her client was highly regarded and his conviction would have lasting affects on his future career.

She said Trethewey had completed a Bachelor of Sport Science, was part-way through a Master of Business Administration, and hoped to complete a Bachelor of Education.

Trethewey was involved in a number of volunteer organisations, she said, including ones where he helped put on children’s camps.

She noted Trethewey had no prior or subsequent offending on his history and said he felt “embarrassment and shame” at his actions.

Judge Paul Smith sentenced Trethewey, who was supported in court by his parents and girlfriend, to 18 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months.

He also ordered Trethewey pay his victim $5000 compensation.