Family of boy abused by female school worker ‘devastated’ by length of jail term

The family of a boy abused by a woman who worked at a North-West Tasmanian school are devastated by what they see as an ‘inadequate’ sentence.

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The family of a 13-year-old boy sexually abused by a family friend is devastated by his abuser’s sentence, an advocacy group says.

In the Supreme Court in Burnie on Thursday, the boy’s 28-year-old female abuser was sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison.

One year of the sentence was suspended and she will be eligible for parole after six months.

Beyond Abuse CEO Steve Fisher, who has supported the boy’s family through the court process, said the family felt the sentence was inadequate.

“It’s been quite an emotional day for the family and now they have to pick up the pieces and go on,” Mr Fisher said.

Beyond Abuse CEO Steve Fisher says the victim’s family is devastated by an ‘inadequate’ sentence given to the abuser. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The child has in front of him a lifetime of psychological issues and the sentencing does not reflect the damage that has been done to both him and the rest of the family, especially his mother who is the primary carer.”

He said Beyond Abuse would continue to pursue mandatory minimum sentencing for child sex offences.

“We believe that if judges can’t give out sentences that are in line with community expectations, it’s maybe time to take it out of their hands and introduce mandatory sentencing,” Mr Fisher said.

“Community expectations these days are that if you are going to be a paedophile and damage a child for the rest of their life, you deserve a bloody big sentence and that is the bottom line.”

Sentenced: Female school worker jailed for sex abuse

A Devonport woman will spend at least six months in prison for persistently sexually abusing a friend’s 13-year-old son.

The woman, 28, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had previously pleaded guilty to persistent sexual abuse of a young person.

In sentencing in the Supreme Court in Burnie, Justice Tamara Jago said the woman’s offending had taken place between June and September 2021.

The woman, who worked in a non-teaching role at a North-West Tasmanian school, had become friends with the boy’s mother because they each had young children in the same class.

“It was common for you to share meals with the complainant’s family and you would also at times babysit the complainant,” Justice Jago said.

“Within the complainant’s family you were viewed as an aunt figure.”

Court

In May 2021 the complainant added himself as a friend on the woman’s Snapchat social media account.

What began as kissing and cuddling between the two developed into sexual abuse.

The woman had sexual intercourse with the boy in locations including in her car and in the boy’s home.

In August 2021 the boy’s mother because suspicious about aspects of her son’s behaviour.

A subsequent search of the boy’s phone uncovered information in the notes section indicating he was having a relationship with the woman, in addition to photos of the boy and the woman.

“Shortly after being confronted you created an alias Snapchat account so you could continue communication with the complainant,” Justice Jago said.

“Despite knowing it was the wrong thing to do, you continued the relationship with the complainant.”

Justice Jago said the woman’s offending had a devastating impact on the victim and his family.

“Your crime involved a breach of trust. You had been befriended by the complainant’s family and you took advantage of that,” she said.

Justice Jago said mitigating factors included the woman’s early plea of guilty and her mental health issues resulting from an abusive upbringing.

“I accept your mental health condition contributed to the offending in a way that reduces your moral culpability, although to my mind not to a significant degree,” Justice Jago said.

“I accept you are remorseful of your conduct and now recognise how wrong your behaviour was.”

Justice Jago sentenced the woman to two years in prison, with one year suspended.

She will be eligible for parole after six months.

She will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years from the date of her release.