Joshua Pettersen: Wyong man charged with sexual abuse of girl, 12, on Central Coast
A man, 25, who allegedly plied a girl with drugs before having sex with her was told by another girl “you do know she’s 12 don’t you?” but continued anyway, a court has heard.
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A 25-year-old Lake Macquarie man faced Wyong Local Court charged with seven counts of having sexual intercourse with a girl, aged 12.
Joshua Pettersen appeared in the dock while his Legal Aid solicitor applied for his release, telling the court he had no prior criminal history, had just started a new job two weeks ago and there would be a lengthy delay before his matters ever reached a trial in the District Court.
He said from the police facts an “honest and reasonable mistake” defence was a “live issue” given conflicting statements in text messages exchanged with the girl afterwards.
In November 2019, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following a report that 12-year-old girl had been sexually abused by a man known to her.
Following extensive inquiries, Mr Pettersen was arrested by investigators at Wyong police station about 4.30pm on Thursday, July 16.
He was charged with seven counts of have sexual intercourse with child (aged between 10 and 14).
The court heard Mr Pettersen, then aged 24, allegedly met up with three girls, including the victim, and they consumed drugs before he allegedly had sexual intercourse with the 12-year-old over a four-day period between September 8-13.
The police prosecutor opposed bail because it was a strong prosecution case and Mr Pettersen made some “admissions” during his recorded interview with police.
He said there were concerns Mr Pettersen could be a flight risk and could contact prosecution witnesses because he had contacted the alleged victim following the incident.
Summarising the facts Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said one of the other girls present said to him “you know she’s 12 don’t you” but he allegedly continued and later in text messages with the victim he said “I don’t know how old you really were, people told me so many different things”.
Ms Ellis said when he was interviewed by police, he said he eventually told the victim to leave his property because his stepmother said “she was very young”.
However Ms Ellis said the facts were “silent” on what age the alleged victim told him she was.
She said it could be as long as three years before the matter went to trial and any risks could be mitigated by strict bail conditions that he live with his father and stepmother at Wyee, abide by a curfew, abstain from drugs or alcohol and have an acceptable person deposit $5000 in surety.
Mr Pettersen was granted bail to reappear on September 8.