Filth Lower Plenty bricklayer Dean Aitchison jailed for grooming Philippines child for sex

A Lower Plenty brickie who flew to the Philippines for a child sex jaunt has kept contracts to complete jobs including a school project.

Dean Aitchison will complete a Melbourne City Baths contract after he was jailed for grooming a Philippines child for sex.

A sobbing Lower Plenty bricklayer who flew to Manila to meet a 13-year-old girl he had groomed for sex has avoided a lengthy jail term.

Dean Aitchison, 53, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to three months jail’ after pleading guilty to groom a child to engage in sexual activity outside of Australia.

Aitchison was intercepted at Melbourne Airport after flying home from Manila in April 2019.

Authorities, who quizzed Aitchison and searched his mobile phone and a storage device, discovered Facebook Messenger chats between he and a Filipino child.

The chats included images of the child in her underwear and semi-naked photos of Aitchison, the court heard.

Authorities also discovered images of Aitchison with other Filipino children and adults taken inside a hotel room.

Aitchison gave a “no comment” interview and was released without charge.

However, Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team investigators raided Aitchison’s Lower Plenty home in December 2019.

Police, who seized and gained access to various devices, discovered more Messenger chats between Aitchison and others including a Filipino adult known to the victim.

“Even though she is opening up to me, we still haven’t even kissed yet … we have not been alone since I got here,” Aitchison said.

“I still got nothing but a cuddle from … no alone time with at all.

“I also said that is (sic) she doesn’t want to show me how much she cares for me, then my trip has been a waste of time and money.

“And I think that she only likes me for the money … I will give her a chance to show me how much she cares or I will be stopping the money … my bank account is closed for her … no honey no money.

“She has to make a decision if she wants me as her boyfriend not just a friendly sponsor.”

Aitchison, who hoped to return to the Philippines, repeatedly messaged his 13-year-old victim even after he was stopped at the airport.

Aitchison told police his victim loved him and he loved her.

“So I’ve been sending some money to her … help out there,” Aitchison said.

“It’s not like — we’ve almost — we’ve got an agreement that we’re not — there’s no — not going to be any touching or anything like that until she’s old enough to do so.

“So there’s no — there’s no — at the moment it’s like a platonic relationship.”

Bank records revealed Aitchison transferred $23,041 to the Philippines between December 2018 and December 2019.

It was submitted Aitchison has a low to average intellect despite running his own bricklaying business since he was 18.

It was also submitted Aitchison had a poor relationship with his partner due to her abusing him and a lack of support, care and intimacy.

Judge Duncan Allen said there was an “appalling atrociousness” to the offending.

“ (Aitchison targeted) a vulnerable impoverished young Filipino girl desperate for money,” Judge Allen said.

Aitchison, via his lawyer, made a late submission to be released from jail so he can complete work contracts with the Melbourne City baths and a Ballarat school.

Judge Allen asked if anyone else could complete the work.

“There’s very few of us,” Aitchison said.

The fiend later sobbed and muttered to himself, briefly interrupting Judge Allen’s sentencing remarks.

“It’s not her fault,” Aitchison said.

Judge Allen accepted Aitchison’s ability to undertake his work will go towards his rehabilitation.

Aitchison, who was made a registered sex offender for 15 years, was jailed for a maximum two years and nine months but will be released on a 33-month good behaviour bond after serving three months.

He had spent 34 days in custody.

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