A BENDIGO Magistrate has been forced to put a Gisborne teenager on the sex offenders register for eight years because he committed an “indecent act” on his underage girlfriend.
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Matthew Trost, 19, pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act on a child under 16 in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday.
The court heard Trost committed the offence on his 18th birthday with his then girlfriend who was a willing participant but was under the age of sexual consent.
Magistrate Felicity Broughton said the charge carried mandatory sentencing requirements and had to be taken seriously by the court regardless of circumstances.
“You were an adult and she was a child,” she told Trost.
“Her family set out what was appropriate behavior and you overstepped that.”
But Ms Broughton admitted there were mitigating circumstances.
“The gap in your ages was not great,” she said.
“You had been in a relationship with the girl for some time. Obviously you have a lot of remorse for what you did.
“You have undergone respectful relationship training and I understand you have always had respect in your relationships with women.
“You are, in general, a fine upstanding citizen.”
Ms Broughton put Trost on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered him to make a $400 charitable donation.
She said it was mandatory that he also be listed on the sex offenders register for eight years.
“You will have to regularly check in with police,” she said.
“But for your plea of guilty I would have put you on a community corrections order.”