Keegan Alan Betts pleads guilty to five counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and two counts of penile intercourse with a child

The young man has been ordered to seek psychological help after he referred to a 13-year-old girl he had sex was as a ‘F****** thing’ and dismissed her fears of pregnancy.

Keegan Alan Betts had been ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment if directed to by his parole officer after he pleaded guilty to a raft of child sex offences.

The 20-year-old man was visibly relieved when Judge Paul Smith said he would avoid serving actual jail time, during his sentencing in the Toowoomba District Court.

The court heard Betts met his 13-year-old victim on Snapchat in July 2023 and struck up a lewd relationship, believing her to be 14 or 15-years-old.

She voluntarily attended his home where the pair engaged in a range of sexual acts, including intercourse in August 2023.

Crown Prosecutor Abby Kong told the court that the girl felt pain and when she shared her concerns about pregnancy with Betts he became enraged.

The pair had sex a second time five days later and again, the court heard the girl experienced physical pain in the aftermath.

The court heard the girl broke down crying a few days after the second incident which led to a police interview where she disclosed the treatment.

Police arrested Betts on August 14, 2023 and he was questioned about the intercourse during which he refused to use the young girl’s name – only referring to her as “it”, Ms Kong said.

When questioned on whether he performed additional sexual acts on the 13-year-old, Betts told officers “she wishes”.

Police also claimed the girl was concerned Betts had caused her to become pregnant after their initial interaction and asked him to purchase a pregnancy test, which he angrily refused.

“She thought I f***ing c*** in her, I told the f***ing stupid thing I didn’t,” Betts told officers.

Despite the serious nature of the offending, Ms Kong conceded there were relevant considerations for sentence.

“It’s not one of those cases where you have a man 20 plus preying on a 12 or 13-year-old, this is a case where they are both in their teens,” she said.

“The real concern, in my submission, is … (in a psychological report) it was further noted Mr Betts did not appear cognisant of the severity of his actions.

“It’s concerning that this report was prepared very recently and that is the attitude that is demonstrated towards this … it would demonstrate a lack of rehabilitation and a lack of insight into his offending.”

She argued a sentence should include extended supervision in the community, if no prison time was served.

Defence barrister Jessica Goldie told the court Betts came from a “prejudicial background” and had turned a corner since spending time in adult prison for unrelated offending.

“He had an unstable home life, his schooling is limited,” she said.

“He has had a background of depression and anxiety.”

The court heard Betts dropped out of school after Year 7 and it was his father who introduced him to ice use as a way of bonding.

“He has been clean from methamphetamine since his time in custody … he has also been placed on a mental health care plan by his doctor,” Ms Goldie said.

She argued the exceptional circumstances of the case, including the small age difference and Betts troubled background, precluded him from spending any actual time in prison.

Judge Paul Smith delayed his ruling until Wednesday to consider all aspects of the case and detained Betts in the watch-house awaiting his decision.

After pleading guilty to five counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and two counts of penile intercourse with a child, Betts was sentenced to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years.

He was further ordered to serve 18 months on probation.

In handing down his sentence Judge Smith said he took into account Betts youth, his early plea, his time in pre-sentence custody and his troubled upbringing

However, he noted the disdain Betts showed to his victim and ordered him to seek medical help to address his mental health.