A 17-year-old boy from Townsville has admitted in court to raping a 15-year-old girl while she was asleep and then uploading a video of the assault to Snapchat. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered a guilty plea in the Townsville District Court on Tuesday to one count of rape and one count of possessing child exploitation material.
Details of the Offence
The court heard that the incident occurred in June 2023, when the victim was staying at the boy's home after a party. The girl had consumed alcohol and fallen asleep in a bedroom. The boy, then 16, entered the room and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. He recorded the act on his mobile phone and later uploaded the video to Snapchat, where it was viewed by others before being reported to police.
Crown prosecutor Sarah Campbell told the court that the victim only learned of the assault when friends informed her about the video circulating on social media. The girl was described as being extremely distressed and has since required counselling.
Legal Proceedings
Defence barrister John de Mars indicated that the boy had expressed remorse and was willing to accept responsibility for his actions. The court was told that the teenager had no prior criminal history and had been assessed as suitable for a youth justice order.
Judge Jennifer Rosser ordered a pre-sentence report and psychological assessment to determine the appropriate penalty. She noted the seriousness of the offence, particularly the use of social media to distribute the video, which added to the victim's trauma.
Community Reaction
The case has sparked outrage in the Townsville community, with local leaders calling for stronger action against sexual violence. Mayor Jenny Hill said the incident highlighted the need for better education around consent and the dangers of sharing intimate content online.
“This is a devastating case that no young person should have to endure,” Hill said. “We must ensure our children understand the legal and emotional consequences of such actions.”
Sentencing Hearing
The boy remains on bail under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and a curfew. He will return to court on September 12 for sentencing, where he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for rape, though as a juvenile, the court may opt for detention in a youth detention centre.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Hogan of the Townsville Child Protection Unit urged anyone with information about similar incidents to come forward. “We take these matters extremely seriously and will continue to work with the community to prevent such crimes,” he said.
