Dhruv Desai was jailed after sending sexually explicit messages to a 13-year-old child in state care

An engineer is behind bars after he sent sexually explicit messages to a child in state care and offered her drugs and money to meet up.

A former civil engineer is behind bars after he preyed on a vulnerable child in state care by offering her drugs and money to meet up.

Dhruv Minesh Desai, 28, will now likely be deported after he asked police in an interview whether it was illegal to send the sexually explicit messages.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Desai began communicating with the 13-year-old victim over Snapchat in December 2021.

Desai sent the victim, who was being cared for under the Guardianship of the Minister, multiple sexually explicit messages, including one that said: “Play with my joystick, lol, you would love it, ey”.

Dhruv Desai was jailed after sending sexually explicit messages to a child in state care. Photo: File

“You then … offered $100 to meet with the victim,” Judge Anthony Allen said.

“You then alluded to the fact that you had drugs and could supply them to the victim.”

Police attended at the victim’s premises at the request of her carer in March 2022 and searched her phone, finding the messages from Desai.

They also located a photograph of Desai and the victim together, which he was not charged over.

“The fact that you met with the victim is concerning, but the court is not to speculate about this aspect of the matter,” Judge Allen said.

When questioned by police in an interview, Desai stated “Is it like illegal or is it a crime? Like, if she’s talking with the same manner, does it matter if I know her age, that I don’t have the right to talk back in the same manner”.

Desai, of Para Hills, pleaded guilty to one count of communicating with the intention of making a child amenable to sexual activity.

The court heard Desai, who was born in India, moved to Australia in 2018 and worked as a civil engineer for six months before his arrest.

“Your background meant that you were sexually naive and accordingly, assimilated traits that were sexually inappropriate and indeed, contrary to law,” Judge Allen said.

“You are a practising Hindu and consequently your offending has brought you great shame.”

Desai was sentenced to two years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of one year and one month.

“You were determined to meet with the victim and offered incentives to exploit the victim, such as offering the victim drugs and money,” Judge Allen said.

Originally published as Dhruv Desai was jailed after sending sexually explicit messages to a 13-year-old child in state care