Cairns rugby league player Roland Gallen guilty of sex offences with three minors
A highly promising Cairns rugby league player found himself behind bars for almost 13 months when one of his victims read a Cairns Post story about his previous offending and went to police.
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A former Southern Suburbs rugby league player walked free from court 14 months ago when convicted for trading cannabis for sex with a girl – but has spent almost 13 months in pre-sentence custody on similar charges.
Roland Patrick Gallen, 33, a former Northern Pride academy squad member and under-20s player, pleaded guilty to nine charges including two counts of carnal knowledge, six counts relating to indecent treatment and one count of using electronic communication with intent to procure an indecent sexual act.
He appeared via video link from custody in Cairns District Court on Friday.
He was two months into an 18 month suspended sentence with two years’ probation when arrested and remanded in custody in October 2022, having pleaded guilty to seven counts of supplying cannabis to a minor, two counts of procuring a young person for carnal knowledge, and one count of using electronic communication to procure a child under 16.
Crown prosecutor Emily Thambya said Gallen connected with the girl on Snapchat and told her he was 18 years old, although he was actually 27 and she was 14 – a 13-year-age gap.
“She saw an article in the newspaper and became concerned about others that may have been involved in similar activity, and reported to police,” she said.
The girl was in court on Friday.
Ms Thambya said in his previous offending, Gallen offered a girl under 16 years sex for cannabis, and offered her more if she would participate in a threesome with her sister, which she declined.
Judge Gregory Lynham said “it is nothing short of appalling”.
The father of two befriended the 14-year-old on social media in July 2018 and exchanged messages including a picture of his penis, and told her sexual things he would like to do to her, but she began a relationship with someone and stopped contact, the court heard.
Gallen then used different accounts to contact her and asked to meet at her house “for a hookup”, telling her his sexual fantasies.
“(She) was home alone, you persuaded her to let you come over and she agreed on the basis she would not be engaging in sex – you arrived, she was very anxious and she said she wanted you to leave but you said it would be okay and commenced sexual activities by kissing her and allowing her to perform oral sex on you,” Judge Lynham said.
The court heard he had intercourse with the girl twice.
He contacted her again in April 2019 seeking sex but the girl refused, although Gallen then used another social media account to exchange intimate images with her and ask her for photos and sex every few months.
“Your offending was clearly predatory in nature, involved grooming to ingratiate yourself to her on the first occasion … you pressured her and were able to coerce her into having sex,” Judge Lynham said.
“I can conclude the offending was troubling for her and may well have lasting effects upon her.”
Judge Lynham referred to a psychologist’s report which said Gallen had a dysfunctional upbringing, and had “a prejudicial childhood with marked parental neglect and mistreatment”.
“The third complainant was 14 years old, your behaviour was wicked and unacceptable, you should be utterly ashamed you engaged in this behaviour – the simple reality is just don’t do it,” Judge Lynham said.
He handed down a head sentence of two years, with three years’ probation, with the sentence suspended after 390 days, and that time declared as time served.
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Originally published as Cairns rugby league player Roland Gallen guilty of sex offences with three minors
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