Toowoomba woman Kathryn Grace Leighton sentenced in court for sex scam robbery

A nursing student who fooled a man via a ‘sugar daddy’ dating site, promising toilet block sex in exchange for cash, has been sentenced in court for the brutal robbery.

Katie Leighton. Picture: File

A Toowoomba ‘sugar daddy’ who believed he was exchanging $500 for sex with a woman he met online was violently beaten and robbed on the floor of a public toilet block.

The Toowoomba nursing student who organised the robbery, Kathryn Grace Leighton, pleaded guilty to armed robbery in company with violence, in Toowoomba District Court on Tuesday, March 5.

The now 19-year-old woman did not act alone, and went to the Queens Park toilet block in October 2022 with a friend and the friend’s boyfriend – Chelsea Leak and Kyle Hibbins.

The court was told the then 18-year-old Leighton organised the sex scam through an online dating website called SugarDaddyMeet.

A court heard despite Kathryn Grace Leighton suffering abuse as a child and being homeless at 15, the woman managed to finished school and obtain a certificate 4 in business. Picture: File

A ‘sugar daddy’ arrangement generally involves older men buying gifts for younger women in exchange for sexual favours.

The court was told Leighton had no intention of engaging in sex work on the night of the incident, and she demanded to see the money when she first entered the toilet block with Leak.

Leighton told the 29-year-old victim if he did not hand over the cash, their pair would scream they were being raped – which they did.

A scuffle ensued between the three, and the man began yelling he was being robbed, alerting Hibbins who was waiting nearby in a getaway car.

Kyle James Hibbins and Chelsea Jo Leak leaving Toowoomba Courthouse after being sentenced for armed robbery, Friday, September 1, 2023.

The 19-year-old man armed himself with a glass bottle which he used to hit the man in the back of the head.

The victim fell to the ground, where the group continued to beat and stomp on the man.

The trio fled with the cash, and the man’s phone and jacket.

The court was told the man suffered serious injuries which included spinal fractures and internal bruising, as well as lifelong physiological issues.

Judge Benedict Power KC said it was a very serious case with unusual features and told Leighton she put herself in an incredibly dangerous situation.

Judge Power said the assault was brutal and protracted, and Leighton was injured during the assault.

The trio, Katie Leighton, Kyle Hibbins, and Chelsea Leak were all sentenced to a two year probation order for the violent robbery.

The court was told Leighton suffered abuse as a child and was homeless at 15, but managed to finish school and obtain a Certificate IV in business as well as attend the University of Southern Queensland as a nursing student.

He noted Leighton had no criminal history and a promising nursing career ahead of her, and that being before a court would be “a humiliating experience” for her.

Judge Power said he was certain Leighton didn’t intend for the robbery to turn violent, and urged her not to let the experience define her as a person.

Leighton was sentenced to a two year probation order and no conviction was recorded.

Hibbins and Leak were also sentenced to a two year probation order in September 2023.

Convictions were not recorded against the pair.