Saxon John Horton pleads guilty to sexual abuse of 13-year-old girl

A Tasmanian man has faced court over sexually abusing a young girl near a pony club after connecting with her on Snapchat. He faced the Supreme Court over the abuse a judge says will have a lasting effect on the girl.

A YOUNG Smithton man has confessed to an episode of serious sexual abuse against a 13-year-old girl he connected with on Snapchat.

Saxon John Horton, 21, appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania via video-link on Tuesday, pleading guilty to indecent assault and penetrative sexual abuse of a child on January 20 last year.

Justice Michael Brett heard the pair knew of each other, but started communicating with each other in the early hours of that morning via the messaging app Snapchat.

The pair agreed to meet up, and walked to a shipping container near the Circular Head Pony Club, where intercourse occurred.

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Afterwards, the pair discussed “not telling anyone what had happened” before going their separate ways.

The girl later told a friend what happened “and that she felt bad about it”, before her family notified police.

She underwent forensic examination with Horton’s semen detected on a swab, but he denied they had sex.

“I knew her age so I couldn’t do it,” Horton claimed at the time, before admitting to police that “I shouldn’t have even met up with her”.

Prosecutors told Justice Michael Brett they didn’t accept Horton’s version of events and claimed he sought to minimise his offending.

Defence lawyer Stephen Wright said the offending was consensual but noted the complainant “was significantly underage”.

He said Horton was “extremely remorseful” and had since thrown himself into his work.

Justice Brett said the intercourse amounted to sexual abuse, which was likely to have consequences in her life.

“That’s why this crime exists – to stop children from being sexually exploited,” he said.

“The reality is that engaging in sexual intercourse with an adult at this age is going to have an impact.

“The impact of sexual abuse can often be permanent.”

He will sentence Horton, who is currently on bail, on June 2.