Filth Horsham footy umpire Jack Loveday jailed for sexual penetration of a child under 16

A filthy Horsham football umpire offered a 14-year-old schoolgirl cash for sex and warned his victim to keep “their secret” quiet.

Jack Loveday was jailed for sexually penetrating a child under 16. Facebook.

A former Horsham footy umpire who groomed a schoolgirl via social media before sexually assaulting his traumatised victim has been jailed.

Jack Loveday, 26, was sentenced in the County Court on Wednesday to a minimum 18 months’ jail after pleading guilty to grooming and sexually penetrating a child under 16.

Loveday groomed his victim via Facebook Messenger, text message and Snapchat in early-2020.

Loveday told his victim she was “sexy” and “beautiful” and asked if he could screenshot her social media photos.

The fiend also asked his victim to sneak out and stay at his Murtoa home and suggested “how she could do that”.

He also asked his victim to move in with him and if she would have sex with him.

The filthy ump then offered his victim cash or to “buy her something” if she stayed at his house.

Loveday later lured his victim to his home where he forced the frightened girl to sit on his bed.

The court was told the girl tried to focus on the television because she was “too scared to look anywhere else”.

Loveday then “towered” over his victim and began “dry-humping” her, the court was told.

He then attempted to undo the victim’s shorts then dry-humped her again.

Loveday then sexually penetrated his victim.

Loveday drove his victim home the next day and warned her “not to tell anyone” about “their secret”.

Loveday umpired more than 300 footy games in the Horsham and Wimmera football leagues.

The matter was reported to police after the victim’s parents discovered messages on their daughter’s phone.

Loveday, a father, was hauled in for questioning in April last year.

The fiend admitted violating his victim but claimed he only wanted to be friends so they “could hang out and watch movies together”.

Loveday claimed he knew what he did was wrong but was “desperate” for a girlfriend despite knowing he could lose access to his son if caught.

Loveday also told police the victim was “desperate for doing it (sex)”.

Judge Sarah Dawes said the evidence didn’t support Loveday’s claim the victim was “desperate for sex”.

The victim had her victim impact statement read to the court.

“I can no longer sleep without waking up multiple times,” she said.

“(My) depression and anxiety has worsened and so has my trust issues … I feel like I have lost myself.

“I hear his voice telling me not to tell anyone … I have nightmares of what happened.

“I blame myself … I feel trapped there’s no escape from this … on my best day I feel defeated.

“I always feel unsafe … I’ve lost my motivation, I’ve lost trust in everyone and I’m afraid.”

The court heard Loveday experienced delayed toilet training as a child but later gained work in aged care with West Wimmera Health Service after graduating from Nhill College.

Loveday lost his job immediately after reporting his offending.

Loveday also lost his gig as a footy umpire in both the Wimmera and Horsham District football leagues which he held during his offending.

The veteran ump officiated in more than 300 games, the court was told.

Loveday also volunteered at his church, with the SES and participated in the Park Run annual fundraiser event.

The defence submitted Loveday’s offending was not at the higher range because it did not contain degrading acts or threats of violence.

Judge Dawes jailed Loveday for a maximum two years and three months, calling the fiend’s conduct “predatory and premeditated”.

Loveday was made a registered sex offender for life.

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