Camden vocal coach James Cassar jailed after grooming 15-year-old girl

The heinous actions of a man who groomed a child in the lead-up to her 16th birthday, expressing hopes to take her virginity when it was legal, have been slammed by a magistrate.

James Cassar has been jailed.

The heinous actions of a man who groomed a child in the lead-up to her 16th birthday, expressing hopes to take her virginity when it was legal, have been slammed by a magistrate as he was sentenced to at least 18 months jail.

James Cassar, 31, pleaded guilty to grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity and indecent assaulting a person under 16 and was sentenced to a head sentence of 27 months jail at Picton Local Court on Wednesday.

According to police facts tendered to the court, the pair in 2017 when Cassar was 25 and the victim was 15.

They began messaging through Snapchat and Messenger, and the victim developed a crush about Christmas 2017, but Cassar told her, “Just so you know, nothing’s ever going to happen.” She replied, “That’s fine. I never expected there to be”.

However, in the following six months, they began to communicate more, and Cassar shared details of the women he had intercourse with.

James Cassar.

The victim revealed to Cassar she was a virgin, and he replied, “When you turn 16, and you don’t have anyone to do with or lose it [her virginity] to, I’d be happy to do that with you”.

In one conversation, Cassar said, “Can’t wait until you’re 16 so we can have sex,” and then encouraged her to send an intimate photo of herself. On a later date, he kissed her on the lips.

In a devastating victim impact statement heard by the court, the victim detailed the private grief and distress she suffered at the hands of Cassar.

In sentencing, Magistrate David Degnan said there was no doubt the victim was a child who Cassar had taken advantage of.

“I also find it to be, in my view, certainly an unusual interest and perhaps a deviant sexual desire to involve oneself with a child,” he said.

“[He had a] desire to have sex with her once she turned 16, what’s been determined legal age … but he was unable to satisfy himself with waiting and continued what is clearly an inappropriate relationship with a child.

Mr Degnan also noted the “counting down” to the victim’s 16th birthday when she would be at the legal age of consent.

He acknowledged the guilty plea, Cassar’s remorse and his lack of criminal record but decided imprisonment was the appropriate punishment.

Cassar was jailed for 27 months with a non-parole period of 18 months. He will be eligible for parole from April 2025.

As he was cuffed, Cassar’s parents hugged him before he was led to the cells. A severity appeal has been lodged.