Geelong man Robert Kanen paid children for sexualised images and messages

A Geelong man who groomed four children over social media in exchange for gifts and money has faced court.

A self-described “sugar daddy” gifted children items and money in exchange for sexualised imagery and messaging across social media.

The Victorian County Court heard that Geelong man Robert Kanen sent money and gifts like Calvin Klein underwear to four girls under 16 in exchange for sexualised imagery, videos and messages over social media.

Kanen pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to procure sex with a child under 16, grooming a child under 16 for sexual activity using a postal service and causing child abuse material to be transmitted to himself.

On one occasion, Kanen met up with two girls under 16 and spent four hours with them in various stores where he bought them gifts they asked for.

When he invited them back to his hotel room and “indicated he wanted to engage in sexual activity”, both girls declined.

Kanen left them both when one of them called her sister and had the older girl approach them.

The court heard that Kanen and one of the girls continued to exchange “sexualised images” over social media platform Snapchat after this incident.

Another child told police that she made arrangements with Kanen to meet her in NSW and “take her back to Victoria” with him. Kanen did not do this.

Defence lawyer Megan Casey submitted that Kanen did not obscure himself on his public Snapchat profile and included his details, such as his contact number and address, on packages that he sent to the girls’ homes.

Ms Casey added that three of the girls initiated contact with Kanen based on his public Snapchat profile, but said it was still a serious matter.

“At the end of the day, they were children,” Ms Casey said.

“They shouldn’t have been asked to send these images. They are unsophisticated and perhaps naive about the conduct that they were engaging in. While they go in with their eyes open, they go in with the eyes of children … who perhaps do not understand the dangers.”

In a victim impact statement read to the court, one particularly “vulnerable young person” explained that she had formed an attachment with Kanen following childhood abuse, neglect and nine years in foster care.

“Since the offences were committed, [the child] speaks of not being able to speak to people or trust that people will not take advantage of her. Prior to the offences, [the child] was a very social and outgoing girl and now she rarely leaves her home and will not travel alone,” the statement read.

Ms Casey said Kanen suffers from schizophrenia and, but for his mental illness, he “wouldn’t have found himself before the court”.

Kanen will be sentenced at a later date.

Originally published as Geelong man Robert Kanen paid children for sexualised images and messages