Dhavan Dave pleads guilty to sexual abuse of teenage girl

A man who had sex with a 14-year-old child he met on social media has blamed his actions on the pandemic lockdown, after he was “basically” unable to see his girlfriend.

A man has blamed his difficulties on visiting his girlfriend during Covid lockdown for connecting with a 14-year-old girl on social media before a series of sexual encounters, a court has heard.

Dhavan Dave, 27 of Quakers Hill, appeared at Penrith District Court on Friday to six charges of having sexual intercourse with a child and one charge of possessing child abuse material.

Dave was arrested on November 2 after police received reports of the crimes.

The court heard Dave’s girlfriend of three years had remained supportive during his time remanded in custody, with the pair believing “they have a future together”.

When giving evidence, the prosecutor asked the 27-year-old why he committed the crimes despite having a loving partner.

Dave said Covid restrictions had made it difficult and “basically” stopped him from seeing his girlfriend.

Dave appeared in Penrith District Court.

The prosecution replied: “Covid restrictions should have stopped you from seeing [the victim] too.”

Dave’s parents and brother were also present in court at the time, with the court hearing he came from a “loving and supportive family” and his parents had travelled for hours to visit him in custody.

Judge Sophie Beckett said Dave showed sexual immaturity and signs of a “personality disorder without a formal diagnosis” demonstrated by a “lack of empathy”.

“If you’re not a diagnosed paedophile then you go for a 14 year old because they’re easy and vulnerable and can be manipulated,” she said.

Dave previously worked as an operations manager in various warehouses earning close to six figures and managing around a hundred staff members.

He lived at home with his parents in Quakers Hill and had never moved out of home.

The court heard during custody Dave had spent 130 days in isolation due to a Covid outbreak in prison which meant he sometimes had to go without showering.

Dave told the court he he would never do anything like this again and he was “deeply sorry”, “upset” and “not a bad person”.

When he was asked why he thought his offending was wrong Dave replied,

“Because of the age difference.”

Dave’s lawyer said it was his client’s “first sexual offence” and he had been staying out of trouble during custody.

The matter will return to Penrith District Court on November 9.