Joel Franklin Westgarth, 23, jailed in District Court for sex with teen girl

A young father has been sentenced for sexually abusing a young teen girl and taking vile pictures of her.

A domestic violence thug and child sex abuser has been given his third jail sentence since May last year after telling police the 14-year-old girl he was abusing was “just a friend”.

Joel Franklin Westgarth, 23, appeared in the District Court on Monday in front of Judge Rauf Soulio for sentencing after pleading guilty to producing child exploitation material and unlawful sexual intercourse.

Judge Soulio noted Westgarth, a young father, “must have been aware of the age – or approximate age” of his victim.

“Police attended your house at Murray Bridge on March 13, 2023, in relation to a bail breach in respect of a separate matter. They intended to locate (the victim) and noticed a photo booklet containing what was described as intimate photographs of you and (the victim) together.

“The material which constitutes count one depicted you and (the victim) engaging in sexual activity – that also forms the basis of the unlawful sexual intercourse charge.”

Joel Westgarth appeared in the District Court on Monday for sentencing. Picture: Facebook

The court had heard Westgarth had told police the young victim was “just a friend” and claimed their the relationship “was not sexual”.

A court previously heard Westgarth was jailed for more than a year in May last year for causing harm to his former partner and the mother of his daughter.

A prosecutor alleged Westgarth kicked his victim in the face while he was wearing steel cap boots – leaving her with significant bleeding from her mouth, a laceration to her face and the loss of her two front teeth.

Westgarth was also sentenced to further jail time in November last year after pleading guilty to performing a body modification on a different minor.

During sentencing for that offending, the court heard Westgarth was tattooing himself when the 13-year-old victim asked him to tattoo her as well. The victim’s tattoos included a little ‘E’ on her finger, a love heart on her thigh, a cross on her inner arm and a name on her ankle.

On Monday, Judge Soulio sentenced Westgarth to five years, seven months and 19 days imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years, six months and 19 days for his latest offending. The sentence will be backdated to May 24, 2023.

“You are a young man who clearly has potential to live a productive life and it would be a great shame if you returned – for example – to drug use or to offending behaviour once you are released,” Judge Soulio said.

“I hope you’re also able to maintain contact with your mother and those who are there to support you.”

Westgarth will be eligible for parole in December next year.

Originally published as Joel Franklin Westgarth, 23, jailed in District Court for sex with teen girl