Sydney teen allegedly prostituted child in care for drugs, court told

Horrific claims a 15-year-old girl was prostituted and filmed in exchange for drugs have been aired in a Sydney court, with the allegations described as “very distressing”.

A 15-year-old girl in the state’s care was allegedly fed drugs and sexually pimped out to a 35-year-old man by an older teen she met while they lived together in a residential care home.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the older teen, who recently turned 18, fronted a western Sydney court last week on a host of charges including causing a child to do acts of prostitution, obtaining a benefit from child prostitution, statutory rape and supplying drugs to a child.

She is further accused of filming the vile alleged acts and disseminating them to others.

She spent most of the proceedings with her head in her hands and burst into tears when Magistrate Rana Daher refused bail due to her history of disobeying court orders and concerns she might attempt to contact and intimidate the alleged victim.

It comes as the Department of Communities and Justice confirmed it was aware of the allegations, describing them as “very distressing”.

The claims have been described as “very distressing” by a government spokesman.

In a statement, a spokesman confirmed the younger teen was “now somewhere safe and being offered appropriate support and counselling”.

“The DCJ is unable to comment any further because the matter is before the courts,” the spokesman said.

The older teen will return to court next month.

The Telegraph understands the two girls first met while living together in the group home.

Police will allege the 18-year-old coerced the younger teen into prostituting herself in exchange for drugs.

The court heard the 35-year-old man allegedly supplied both teens with cannabis and ice, with the older teen allegedly receiving the drugs in exchange for organising the 15-year-old to “participate in an act of prostitution”.

The court heard the 18-year-old allegedly filmed or photographed the acts and sent the material to unknown people, resulting in additional charges of producing, possessing and disseminating child abuse material.

The court heard the girl is also charged with theft and perverting the course of justice amid allegations she stole the younger teen’s mobile phone and destroyed it.

When she was arrested, the 18-year-old already had outstanding charges against her where the younger teen was the alleged victim, as well as an apprehended domestic violence order.

The girl’s lawyer Carlos Cofre said his client had a history of deprivation and had been placed in state care at the age of three, then “exposed to sexual acts against her consent” from the age of five.

He confirmed she had a history of drug use and addiction but would agree to strict conditions if granted bail including submitting to drug testing and living with her father, who was present in court to support her.

Refusing bail, Magistrate Daher described the allegations as “highly concerning” and noted the younger teen had initially been terrified to make a report to police amid fears she would be harmed by the 18-year-old or her friends.

“The risk of [the 18-year-old] interfering with the alleged victim or witnesses is of concern,” she said.

The case will return to court next month.

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