Tasmanian woman jailed for persistent abuse of child

A Tasmanian woman has been sentenced to jail for the persistent abuse of a child she met at a birthday party, and went on to contact via Snapchat. Her sentence >>

Generic lady justice. Picture: iStock

A woman will spend more than a year in jail after she was on Friday convicted of the year-long persistent sexual abuse of a child she had met at a birthday party,

The 26-year-old woman identified only as SS, pleaded guilty before the sentencing hearing to one count of persistent sexual abuse of a young person, which relates to six separate occasions of sexual contact during June 2023 and April 2024 – SS then aged between 24 and 25 and the child between 13 and 14 years old.

Acting Justice Brian Martin said that both SS and the child met at a birthday party for the child’s sister, whereby contact began over Snapchat.

From there, Acting Justice Martin said the child “bonded with SS’ own children, who were very young” and began to stay at her home more often, then developing five months later into sexual abuse.

Acting Justice Martin detailed that these events were filmed and photographed and sent to the child.

In acknowledging the events and the child’s statement, Acting Justice Martin also referenced SS’ violation of bail conditions and of a restraint order that she not approach or make contact with the child directly or indirectly by any means.

On December 2023, the police located the child in the bathroom of SS’ home.

“You admitted that your bail conditions included not contacting or being with the child and said the child had contacted you that day saying that she felt unsafe and suicidal,” Acting Justice Martin said.

“The Crown facts, admitted by you, state that notwithstanding the bail condition that you do not approach or communicate with the child, you and the child continued a sexual relationship until your further arrest for breaches of bail and remand in custody in late April 2024.

“Contact occurred in person, by phone and through the aid of a third party on the Arunta system while you were in custody.”

Acting Justice Martin said SS had “demonstrated a propensity in the past to disregard court orders, both bail and restraint orders, in favour of satisfying your wish to maintain contact with the child”.

He also said there was no excuse for the “mutual affection” between the child and SS and that she was at risk of reoffending.

Acting Justice Martin handed down convictions for one breach of bail and two breaches of a restraint order as well as one count of persistent sexual abuse of a young person.

SS received two years and three months in jail, with the sentence suspended after she had served one year and three months.

SS will be placed on the Community Protection Offender Register.