Dwane Harding charged at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court with supplying teenage girls with meth, groping them

An accused Bendigo predator allegedly sexually assaulted a young teen as he injected her and her friend with meth and “helped them smoke” drugs.

An accused predator allegedly sexually assaulted a young teen as he injected her and her friend with meth. Picture: iStock

An accused predator allegedly sexually assaulted a young teen as he injected her and her friend with meth.

Dwane Jon Harding, 39, is facing 20 years in prison for allegedly supplying two teenage girls with a drug of dependence as he negotiates a plea deal.

Harding met the two teenage girls at a Long Gully property on October 12, 2023 where he allegedly supplied them with Woodstock bourbon cans and put his number into their phones.

A few days later, Harding offered to supply the girls with “crack” for money.

Police allege on October 14 about 10pm the two girls went to the Bendigo home Harding was staying at where he “helped them smoke meth” with a “crack pipe”.

He then allegedly offered them more meth, showing them a syringe full of the drug before trying to kiss her on the mouth, police alleged in court.

The court heard Harding was couch surfing and homeless.

She pulled away and said “no, I’m 13”, the court heard. But police allege Harding allegedly coerced the girl by withholding the drug from her, saying “do you still want this?” Indicating the meth syringe.

When the child said she did, Harding allegedly started to grope her and kiss her.

Police allege Harding then injected her in the arm while he tried to move her hand to his crotch.

He then took the alleged second victim into the bedroom and injected her about nine times because he couldn’t find her vein which one of the girls allegedly recorded on her phone.

The children were then seen not long afterwards by a witness who described them “off their faces” with track marks on their arms.

Harding was arrested and charged on January 5 after allegedly making “some” admissions to police and has spent 110 days in pre-sentence detention after his bail was refused.

Appearing via video link at Bendigo Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the accused predator sought an indication of what a potential sentence for the alleged crimes would be.

The court heard Harding is facing multiple charges with maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, including supplying a child with a drug of dependence.

However, if the case is dealt with summarily in the Magistrates Court, his sentence cannot be higher than five years.

Harding’s lawyer asked for a community corrections order, stating the accused was homeless and undergoing serious hardship.

Police asked for serious jail time with a non-parole period to “better serve the community” and address “egregious offending” considering the vulnerability and age of the two complainants.

Magistrate Johanna Metcalf said the allegations were “serious” and she needed time to consider an appropriate sentence, adjourning the case to May 3.