Edward Bunker released after sex with child

A man who was more than twice the age of his 12-year-old victim, took her back to his grandmother’s house to have sex with her after meeting online.

Edward Bunker, 28, was sentenced to nearly two years jail as time already served. DENIS CHARLET.

A man who was more than twice the age of his 12-year-old victim when he had sex with her after meeting online has been freed from jail.

Edward Bunker was 25-years-old when he had sex with a 12-year-old after meeting her on Facebook in 2018, with the pair having discussed sex, getting married and having a child.

The girl stayed with Bunker at his grandmother’s Ballarat East home over a couple of days, where they had unprotected sex.

Bunker now 28, was sentenced to almost two years jail as time already served in the County Court on Tuesday.

He will be subject to an 18-month community corrections order and have to undertake a sex offenders program as well as other treatment.

The maximum term of imprisonment is 15 years.

The court heard the girl’s mother contacted Bunker through Facebook, telling him her daughter’s age but was blocked by him preventing further communication.

An aunt searched the child’s Facebook account and when she found photos of Bunker, sent him a message saying he was “f***** in the head”.

“You have some serious issues you need to be locked away and the key thrown away,” it said.

“She is only 12 you are seriously the scum of the earth you need to be punished.”

Judge Kevin Doyle said he took into account the significant age gap and the man’s intellectual disability and IQ of 60.

Judge Doyle said Bunker was persistent in maintaining contact with the girl despite “very clear warnings”.

Bunker pleaded guilty to one count of sexually penetrating a child under 16.

The court heard Bunker had been diagnosed with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, ADHD, autism, an intellectual impairment and other health conditions.

He will be a registered sex offender for 15 years.