NSW Water Polo referee jailed over sex with 14-year-old player
A young water polo referee joked that he’d only end up in jail for his sexual relationship with a 14-year-old player if they got “caught”. Two years later the 20-year-old was led away in handcuffs after being convicted of sex offences.
Police & Courts
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A young water polo referee who “manipulated” a 14-year-old player into a sexual relationship and quipped about ending up behind bars has ended up in jail.
The referee, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was a promising water polo player in his teenage years before he rose through the ranks as a referee.
But aged 19, he was suspended from Water Polo NSW after the family of a young female player raised allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
In December, 2018, NSW Child Abuse Squad detectives charged the teen, who lived at home with his parents, with three offences – including sexual intercourse with a person under 16 and indecent assault.
He had denied the allegations, but on Friday a magistrate handed down the harshest penalty available in the local court – a maximum two years in jail.
The 20-year-old calmly emptied his pockets and placed a face mask on, as three Corrective Services officers led him into the cells at the Downing Centre Local Court. He was released on bail an hour later pending an appeal.
Last month, following a District Court trial, he was acquitted of the sexual assault of another girl, 17, in 2018. He had argued the sex was consensual but was found guilty of common assault for choking the girl.
But The Saturday Telegraph can reveal he had already been convicted of having sexual intercourse with the young player when he faced trial.
His victim, who said in an emotional statement the man had “stolen her innocence”, watched his sentencing from the public gallery yesterday, surrounded by supporters.
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The court heard he was 18 and employed as a Water Polo NSW referee when he struck up a conversation with the victim, then a 14-year-old player.
He sexually assaulted her while driving her home in early 2018. On another occasion, he asked the girl for oral sex and held the girl’s head down during the act.
The court heard that when the pair were driving past Long Bay Jail one day, the victim remarked “that is where you are going to end up”.
He allegedly replied: “Only if we get caught.”
Sentencing him, Magistrate Michael Crompton said: “It is telling there is no insight into the offending.”