Christopher Patrick Jenkins faced Hervey Bay District Court
Unaware he was actually talking to an undercover police officer, a man sent sexual videos and discussed plans to have sex with a 15-year-old girl in a hotel.
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Using WhatsApp and Snapchat, a man attempted to groom a 15-year-old girl into meeting for sex, unaware he was actually talking to an undercover police officer.
Christopher Patrick Jenkins, 31, pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age to engage in, or submit to, sexual activity with the sender, using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to person under 16 years of age, using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years of age.
The court heard Jenkins, who had no criminal history, had started chatting online with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl.
But the court heard the messages, which were sexual in nature and sent via WhatsApp and Snapchat, were actually sent to an undercover police officer.
Believing he was talking to a 15-year-old girl, Jenkins sent videos of himself masturbating, the court was told, and requested she send similar videos.
The court heard Jenkins had corresponded with the “girl” for a period of 12 days, trying to ingratiate himself by offering to buy her gifts and take her on dates.
He had introduced and repeatedly redirected the conversation towards sexual matters, the court heard, and discussed plans to see her so he could have sex with her in a hotel.
Jenkins sent four videos of himself masturbating with graphic descriptions of sexual acts he wanted to engage in, the court was told.
He had suggested the “girl” engage in sexual acts with him via WhatsApp video chat on a number of occasions, the court heard.
When police executed a search warrant in relation to the offending, Jenkins told officers he had “glazed over” the “girl’s” initial statement as to her age.
But that was inconsistent with repeated references made by the defendant and assumed identity, the court was told, which spoke of her being a school student and her naivety.
Jenkins had also specifically referred to the “girl’s” youth in describing sexual fantasies and introducing her to sexual experiences.
He had told her not to tell anyone about their conversations and not to save images, the court heard.
In Jenkins’ defence, the court heard he felt shame and guilt over the offending and he had feelings of relief when he had been informed he had not been speaking with an actual child.
The court heard he had been drinking daily to excess after a relationship breakdown at the time of the offending.
Jenkins had been suffering from a major depressive disorder that had been untreated throughout his life, the court was told.
Judge Brad Farr said Jenkins had been to some extent sexually excited by the thought of sexual activity or talking about sexual activity with someone of that age.
He said the offending conduct was “undoubtedly serious”.
Judge Farr said while the offending period might be seen to be short compared to other matters, it represented 12 days of Jenkins being able to work out for himself that what he was doing was wrong.
The fact that there was no child was not a mitigating circumstance as Jenkins was not to know that, Judge Farr said.
Judge Farr said it had been submitted that after testing, Jenkins had been presented as being at a low risk of reoffending.
Jenkins was sentenced to 15 months in prison, to be released after serving five months.
He would then remain on a $2000 good behaviour bond for a period of 18 months.
Jenkins was also placed on 18 months’ probation to be served after his release from prison.
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