Courts / Westmeath / Report
'Cunning' abuser who defiled teenage girls appeals 9-year sentence
Summary
In a case heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the final three years suspended, for defiling a 14‑year‑old girl and a 16‑year‑old girl at his apartment between 2017 and 2018. He pleaded guilty to the defilements and to two counts of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Evidence showed he used Snapchat and Instagram to lure the girls with offers of free drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine, before defiling them. The older victim reportedly consented to sexual activity. The man's counsel argued the 14‑year headline sentence was too high, citing lack of authority and isolation, while the DPP's counsel maintained the sentence was justified by aggravating factors such as drug use, age disparity, and premeditated social‑media contact. The Court of Appeal will rule on the appeal on Friday.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Cunning' abuser who defiled teenage girls appeals 9-year sentence. Charges or matters: the defilement of a 14-year-old girl under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 on dates between September 1, 2018 and November 24, 2018 at his apartment; a similar offence involving a 16-year-old girl on dates between May 1, 2017 and July 22, 2017 at the same location; further two counts of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation in relation to the same two victims. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 1, 2018 Incident
- November 24, 2018 Incident
- May 1, 2017 Incident
- July 22, 2017 Incident
- 2021-07-12 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the defilement of a 14-year-old girl under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 on dates between September 1, 2018 and November 24, 2018 at his apartment; a similar offence involving a 16-year-old girl on dates between May 1, 2017 and July 22, 2017 at the same location; further two counts of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation in relation to the same two victims (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The 30-year-old male was sentenced to 12 years in prison at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court in November 2019 with the final three years suspended.
Places mentioned
- Mullingar
- Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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