Trent Allan Kelly sentenced after ‘profoundly disturbing’ stalking of teenage girl

A young woman relentlessly pursued by an Ipswich stalker, who harassed her for sexually explicit favours when she was just 15, has bravely faced her demon in court, saying the man “mentally ruined” her life.

A court has heard how an Ipswich man stalked and harassed a 15-year-old for a month – after only weeks prior being given a suspended sentence for the same offence.

Leichhardt man Trent Allan Kelly, 48, pleaded guilty in the Ipswich Magistrate’s Court Friday, July 29, to using the internet to procure a child under the age of 16 and unlawful stalking.

The court heard Kelly made 132 calls to a teenage girl from April 7 to May 3, 2018.

The court heard the phone calls started out with Kelly being silent or breathing heavily, and eventually escalated to him offering to pay the girl for him to listen to her masturbate and asking her to send him nude photos.

Magistrate Leanne Scoines noted that at one point, Kelly told the girl he had been given photos of her by a family member.

Magistrate Scoines said the offending was “profoundly disturbing” and “at the very least creepy and disconcerting”.

The victim attended court, supported by her family, and read out her impact statement.

“I’ve spent countless hours crying, reliving the trauma Trent Kelly has put me through,” she said.

“You have mentally ruined my life and played games with my head.”

The woman further described how Kelly’s actions had made her feel watched, unsafe around men in general, and how her own mental health had deteriorated as a result.

The court heard Kelly had been given a suspended sentence on March 8, 2018, for a similar incident in which he had engaged with another 15-year-old girl over Facebook – offering similar cash inducements.

Defence lawyer Dylan Hans said Kelly had been intoxicated when he made the calls, and he had issues with both drug and alcohol abuse.

He further said Kelly suffered mental health difficulties, including PTSD.

“I think it’s fairly safe to say, it is evident in [the victim]’s words and presentation that the impact this offending has hand on her has been devastating,” said Magistrate Scoines.

She sentenced Kelly to 12 months imprisonment, and activated his nine month suspended sentence – to be served cumulatively.

His parole eligibility date was set for six months and convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Trent Allan Kelly sentenced after ‘profoundly disturbing’ stalking of teenage girl