Yarram sex fiend Harry Smith jailed for sexually penetrating underage schoolgirl

A Yarram grub hoped to avoid the big house despite leaving his traumatised schoolgirl sexual assault victim with injuries.

Harry Smith was jailed. Facebook.

A Yarram sex fiend who sexually assaulted an underage schoolgirl, leaving the victim’s mother traumatised, has been jailed.

Harry Smith, 20, was sentenced in the County Court on Tuesday to a minimum nine months’ jail after pleading guilty to sexual penetration of a child under 16.

Smith assaulted his victim at Sale in September last year, the court was told.

The fiend persisted with his demands for sexual activity before violating the girl near a park.

The prolonged attack left Smith’s underage schoolgirl with injuries.

Smith later apologised to his victim for causing the injuries but not the assault, the court heard.

Smith also attacked two police officers as they attempted to arrest him days after the assault.

Smith was charged but later bailed.

Smith, who appeared in person, sat in the dock as his victim’s mother had her victim impact statement read to the court during a plea hearing held earlier this year.

The mother said she was now “constantly” looking out for her daughter.

“I have noticed the change in (my daughter) since this incident happened,” she said.

“(My daughter) prefers to stay home where she is in a safe and secure environment … (I need to know) where she is at all times.

“I feel like I need to protect (my daughter) more than I ever have.

“All my spare time is spent supporting her … I feel like no one understands how I feel.”

The mother said the incident caused stress and disagreements at home and led to the break up of a relationship.

The mother said she was “walking on eggshells” at home, has withdrawn from friends and “feels guilty” when she is “having fun”.

“I’m hurt that my daughter has had to go through this,” she said.

“I’m scared of the what ifs that may happen from this incident.

“(I’m) Frustrated with (my daughter) for constantly needing, wanting me and then the guilt I feel for feeling frustrated, self-pity for not having freedom or time to myself anymore.”

The mother said she had taken days off work, sick days and leave without pay and often lays awake at night thinking about all the things she could have done to prevent the incident from happening.

She said her daughter would often come into her bed “crying from nightmares”.

Smith’s barrister submitted the age difference was “modest”.

“He was well aware of her age,” the defence submitted.

“(Smith was) well aware of the wrongness of it too,” Judge Paul Smallwood said.

Judge Smallwood accepted Smith was a “moderate to high” chance of sexual reoffending.

The court was told Smith worked as a volunteer in local op shops.

Smith was assessed for youth justice detention but was found unsuitable, the court was told.

The fiend was jailed for a maximum 18 months and made a registered sex offender for life.

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