A MAN who harassed the 13-year-old daughter of his partner has been convicted and fined.
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The 27-year-old appeared remotely in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to one charge of using a telecommunication service to harass.
The court heard the man was in a relationship with the 13-year-old victim's mother at the time of the offending.
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In March last year, while the mother was remanded in custody, the man stayed in the family home with the victim and the victim's sister.
The 13-year-old girl was using her mother's phone while she was in custody. One night when her sister went to a different bedroom, the man began texting the girl.
In a series of messages read out to the court, the man told the girl that she was gorgeous and that he wanted to "f*** her like crazy".
The victim told her sister about the messages and the man was confronted and assaulted by an unknown person.
The 27-year-old man was arrested and interviewed on May 29. He admitted to sending the messages to the girl, but told police he had been "off his head on ice" at the time.
Defence lawyer Robert Timms told the court a psychological assessment showed the man was at a moderate risk of sexual reoffending.
Mr Timms said his client had since relocated interstate, although the victim's mother had moved with him.
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Magistrate Russell Kelly said he was concerned that the victim was with her mother and the offender.
Police prosecutor Abdul Fakhouri told the court officers had been unable to get hold of the victim or her mother to check on the victim's location.
Mr Kelly told the man he was "very fortunate" that he did not go any further with the offending.
The magistrate said he accepted that the man was drug-affected at the time and made a "stupid comment", but he warned the man that he was on "very thin ice".
Mr Kelly convicted and fined the man $1500.
The police lodged an application to the court, requesting that the magistrate place the man on the sex offenders register as a result of the offending.
Mr Kelly adjourned the application so the police could make further enquiries about the safety of the victim.
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