Cheyne Vere Harper faces Toowoomba Supreme Court for supplying dangerous drugs to a minor

After becoming besotted with a 13-year-old girl he met online, a Geham man more than twice her age showered her with gifts, including cannabis, a court has been told.

A Geham man who had become besotted with a 13-year-old girl he met online has faced court after he was caught supplying the teenager with cannabis.

Cheyne Vere Harper appeared in Toowoomba Supreme Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to three charges of supplying a dangerous drug to a minor.

The court was told the then 37-year-old met the girl on social media platform Snapchat in February 2020, with the teenager claiming to be 16 and joking to exchange sexual favours for money.

Over the next eight months a relationship was formed between the pair, and while Crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy QC said nothing physical eventuated, Harper became “besotted” with the girl, who later revealed she was in fact 13.

The court was told over the period of the relationship Harper showered the girl with gifts, including money, alcohol, cigarettes and on three occasions cannabis.

In total Harper supplied 8.5g of the drug to the teenager, who was caught in possession of the drug on October 25, 2020, where it was discovered that Harper had been supplying the drug to her.

Justice Martin Burns said while the offences were serious, he was left with the impression that it was not a case where the victim was introduced to drugs by Harper.

Noting his previous struggles with mental health issues that had “started to take their toll”, Justice Burns said spending time in custody would be “positively detrimental”.

Harper was sentenced to 12 months jail, suspended for two years, and placed on a two year probation order.