Cricketer Aaron Summers jailed over grooming, child abuse material

A cricket star plotted to “blackmail” his young grooming victims if they ever tried to speak out about his abuse

Aaron Summers, 25, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison by the NT Supreme Court after pleading guilty to multiple grooming and child abuse material offences. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

A CRICKET star plotted to “blackmail” his young grooming victims if they ever tried to speak out about his abuse.

Aaron Summers, 25, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison by the NT Supreme Court after pleading guilty to multiple grooming and child abuse material offences.

The former Hobart Hurricane player sat silently in the dock as Justice John Burns described how the sporting star lured four NT young boys into sending explicit images of themselves over Snapchat.

Mr Burns said Summers repeatedly used his fame to gain access to the boys over a three-month period in 2020.

“(A 13-year-old’s) online conversation with you were initially about sports but they became increasingly sexualised,” he said.

In one incident the 25-year-old sent a boy an unsolicited dick pic and then demanded he send explicit photos and videos of himself.

The former Hobart Hurricane player sat silently in the dock as Justice John Burns described how the sporting star lured four NT young boys into sending explicit images of themselves over Snapchat. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“Because the victim saw you twice a week at cricket he thought you might get angry if he did not do as you asked,” Mr Burns said.

Summers invited one of the boys to his hotel room, and plied the boys with gifts, including KFC, McDonald’s and rides on e-scooters.

Mr Burns said Summer’s victims were still dealing with his abuse, feeling shame, guilt and anxiety over his actions.

When police examined the cricketer’s phones they found 63 explicit images and videos recorded through Snapchat.

Mr Burns said Summers told police he recorded them for “blackmail material on the child if they ever threatened to show the naked images and or videos which you had sent to them”.

A psychological report said the WA born athlete felt isolated, uncertain about his career as a contract cricketer and was dealing with his own childhood abuse.

Summer was sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison, with a two year non-parole period. The cricketer will also be listed on the sex offenders register.

In November, NT Cricket vowed never to let the child groomer and former Hobart Hurricanes player return to the sport in the Territory.