Fiend Melbourne martial arts instructor Aaron Smalley pleads guilty to child sex offences

A Melbourne martial arts coach sexually assaulted a teenage girl multiple times including after a depraved Pokemon “strip game”.

Aaron Smalley pleaded guilty to sexual penetration of a child under 16. Facebook.

A Melbourne martial arts instructor who sexually penetrated a 15-year-old girl and forced his victim to destroy evidence of his vile offending has been jailed.

Aaron Smalley, 29, was sentenced in the County Court on Tuesday to a minimum 18-month jail term after pleading guilty to charges including sexual penetration of a child under 16.

Smalley, the former co-owner and “sensei” at Templestowe martial arts business Project Motion, violated the victim between late-2019 and early-2020.

Smalley, a former Ultimate Martial Arts Heathmont instructor, had been his victim’s coach for a period of time, the court heard.

Smalley, of Mooroolbark, who also pleaded guilty to sexual assault, first violated his victim at the Aquanation Ringwood car park.

The assault occurred after Smalley drove his victim home from the Fitness Expo held at the Exhibition Centre.

Smalley, who pleaded guilty to multiple sexual penetration of a child under care or supervision charges, also sexually assaulted the child in the back room of his Templestowe gym.

The court heard Smalley “suggested” that he and the victim play Pokemon cards at his gym but “making it a strip game” to “make it more interesting”.

Smalley, who the court heard lost several games but never removed any clothing, asked his victim to undo her school dress.

Smalley then sexually penetrated his victim.

Smalley later violated the child several times at various locations, including a Bundoora apartment and a Heathmont park.

Smalley violated his victim multiple times.

Smalley also had sex with the child at his mother’s home, the court was told.

The vile fiend made his victim have a shower with him where he performed another lewd act on the girl.

Smalley also asked the child to perform lewd acts on video chats while he gratified himself.

Smalley would often end the calls once he was done but ”directed” his victim to delete the video calls and send screenshots to prove she had done what he asked.

Smalley also violated his victim near Ringwood scout hall just prior to the child ending the “relationship”.

The court heard the victim informed Smalley’s former business partner before the matter was referred to police in March 2021.

Police set up a pretext call between the victim and Smalley which was played to the court.

Smalley, who repeatedly apologised to his victim throughout the call, told the girl he “did not know what was going through his mind at the time”.

Smalley also told the victim he “regretted” his actions and claimed he “thought about killing himself”.

The victim told Smalley he knew she was 15 when they first had sex and that he “knew it was wrong”.

Smalley, who was arrested, charged and remanded in August 2021, told police he had sex with the girl at his mum’s house but “couldn’t recall” the Pokemon card game had been a “strip game”.

The court heard Smalley’s martial arts instructor career was now over but he retained the support of friends and family.

Smalley, who was made a registered sex offender for life, was jailed for a maximum three years and seven months.

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