Registered child sex offender Andrew Hoffman, 37, back in community despite ‘stalking’ teen girl

A convicted child sexual offender who failed to report repeated contact with a 17-year-old girl while working as a DoorDash driver has walked free from court after being sentenced to parole.

Convicted sexual offender Andrew Hoffman was released on a 12-month parole release order after appearing in Cleveland Magistrates Court charged with failing to comply with reporting obligations. Picture: The Courier-Mail

A child sex offender who worked as a food delivery driver repeatedly sought out a teenage girl at the restaurant where she worked will remain in the community after being granted immediate parole.

Andrew Hoffman, 37, was working as a DoorDash delivery driver when he met the 17-year-old girl at her workplace and started asking for her roster and arriving even when he wasn’t called on for a delivery.

Prosecutors told the court he later asked her age and whether she had a boyfriend, to which she responded that she was 17 and did not.

Cleveland Magistrates Court heard he struck up flirtatious conversations with the teen, who later told Redland Bay police she felt “stalked”.

Hoffman – who had previously been convicted of child sexual offending – pleaded guilty to breaching his lifelong reporting obligations, which included notifying police when he had contact with children.

Police also revealed Hoffman had previously been found to have unreported online contact with numerous underage girls, using platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok.

The court heard on previous occasions, he had sent explicit images of his erect penis and offered money for sexual acts.

The matter was heard in Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Judith Kerr

Magistrate Deborah Vasta described his most recent conduct as “clearly inappropriate” and ruled that despite his extensive criminal history, a custodial sentence was not warranted due to mitigating factors.

The court heard Hoffman had engaged in multiple interactions with a teenage girl while working as a DoorDash driver, and later sought her out at her workplace for reasons unrelated to his work as a delivery driver.

Hoffman is subject to the Queensland Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) Act 2004 and must report any contact with minors within 24 hours.

Officers found Hoffman had not reported the contact, breaching his legal obligations.

Hoffman’s criminal record dates back to 2016 and includes multiple convictions for indecent treatment of children under 16, using electronic communication to procure children, and failing to comply with reporting obligations.

The court was told he had previously served time in custody and been placed on probation and parole orders, some of which he breached.

Magistrate Vasta said Hoffman’s repeated breaches showed he had not learned from previous court interventions but ultimately decided on a parole order, citing his employment, family responsibilities, and the need for stability to reduce the risk of reoffending.

“You’re not here because you were delivering food,” she said.

“You crossed the line when you engaged in personal conversation and pursued her.”

She noted that Hoffman had sometimes the girl’s workplace without any delivery purpose and continued the behaviour after being told her age by staff.