James Proberts sentenced after child sex on a Ballina school oval

A man has admitted he violated a 14-year-old on a high school oval when he was aged 18. Find out how the courts have dealt with the offender.

James Alfred Proberts, 35, faced Coffs Harbour District Court on Friday after pleading guilty in June to sexual intercourse with a person over 14 but under 16 without consent and knowing she was not consenting.

Sneaking out for a party on a summer evening would later cost a 14-year-old girl her innocence.

The Ballina girl fibbed, telling her mother she was staying at a friend’s place, but instead went to a friend’s party.

She admits it was not unusual for her to sneak out at night to meet mates, this time joining two friends behind a Ballina venue where about 30 other people were gathered.

An older man bought vodka for the young girls, who quickly got drunk.

A generic photograph of NSW high school students.

They would end up at a park with another group of young teens.

What happened next on a Ballina school oval would change the lives of two teenagers forever.

James Alfred Proberts, 35, faced Coffs Harbour District Court on Friday after pleading guilty in June to sexual intercourse with a person over 14 but under 16 without consent and knowing she was not consenting.

Court documents detail how Proberts, then aged 18, his 17-year-old male friend and the 14-year-old girl split from the main group and walked toward the girl’s school on the December night the offences unfolded.

Ballina skatepark, where the teens met up before parting ways.

Agreed facts say kissing ensued between the three teens before Proberts had sex with the girl and the other teen unsuccessfully tried to have sex with the victim. Both wore condoms.

The woman, who came forward more than a decade after that night, says she did not consent to the sex when she was a teenage girl.

In a victim impact statement before the court, she said she had suffered mental health and relationship issues as a result of the night on her high school oval.

“Having your innocence stolen at a young age is horrific,” she said.

“I’m glad I’ve been able to come forward and show courage to others who may be going through the same thing.”

Judge Jonathan Priestley noted the men caused long-term trauma to the victim.

He said there was a need to recognise harm done to the victim but said a jail term was not appropriate.

Proberts was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order.