Mildura man Rhys Wardle sent sexually graphic messages and images to multiple underage victims

A former abattoir worker persistently sent sexual images to multiple underage girls, including sending pictures of his penis to a 14-year-old.

Wardle sent numerous sexually charged messages and images to girls as young as 14. Picture: Generic

A Mildura porn addict sent sexually charged messages and images to multiple girls under the age of 18 — including one aged just 14 — during a vile months-long series of offending.

Rhys Wardle, 33, fronted Mildura County Court to be sentenced on charges, including using a carriage service to harass and using a carriage service to send indecent communications to a child under the age of 16.

The court heard how Wardle, a former abattoir worker, persistently sent messages and sexual images to a 16-year-old over a six-month period in 2019.

Among the foul messages were multiple pictures of his penis.

It was revealed that when the victim told him to “f--- off”, Wardle would send her abusive messages.

The 16-year-old victim told the court via a Victim Impact Statement that Wardle’s offending resulted in her having panic attacks and damaging personal relationships.

The court heard Wardle had been sentenced to three years behind bars in South Australia for similar offending after being arrested on these matters. Picture: Supplied

Another victim, who was just 14-year-old, was on the receiving end of Wardle’s foul behaviour, even after her older sister had warned Wardle she was going to the police.

The court heard Wardle sent multiple pictures of his penis to the 14-year-old, and countless sexually explicit messages,

Another victim, a 17-year-old, could not shake Wardle’s predatory offending even after she had told him he was at a police station reporting him in an attempt to get Wardle to stop.

Despite this, Wardle continued his barrage of lewd messages, including sending a picture of his penis accompanied by vile messages.

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Wardle admitted to police after his arrest that he chatted to teenage girls he did not know and accepted he probably sent sexual images. He told police “I must have been on something pretty heavy,” during his recorded interview.

It was revealed in court Wardle had substance abuse issues

Following his arrest, Wardle went to South Australia and was convicted of six charges of similar type offending and received a three-year sentence.

The court heard Wardle was addicted to pornography and was watching at least 30 minutes of porn a day for a sustained period of time. Picture: Generic

A report obtained during a prison assessment uncovered that Wardle spent 30 minutes a day watching pornography over a sustained period, with it getting more and more extreme over time.

Judge Fran Dalziel said a firm message needed to be sent that this type of offending would not be tolerated.

”A child of 14 should not be exposed to sexual overtures,” Judge Dalziel said

Ms Dalziel said Wardle’s prospects of rehabilitation were reasonable as she handed him a total effective sentence of 12 months behind bars.

Following his sentence, Wardle will be released on a recognisance order and required to undergo an assessment for the sex offender’s program.

With 251 days reckoned as pre-sentence detention, Wardle will likely be released in early April 2025.