Arabic version: سجن فتى من كانبرا بسبب اعتداءات على ضحيتين

According to ABC News, a 17-year-old boy has been sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting two females in separate attacks in Canberra. The sentence, which includes time already served at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre, is due to be suspended from May 2028 when he enters a good behaviour order and accepts supervision conditions.

The boy was on bail over the assault of a 17-year-old girl when he attacked a 60-year-old jogger on Oak Hill, on the Centenary Trail in Bonner, just after 10am on May 26 last year. The then-15-year-old grabbed the woman from behind, strangled her until she briefly lost consciousness, and assaulted her after she regained consciousness. He took her phone and ran away. The woman found another woman, who called triple zero, and police arrested the boy a short time later.

The earlier offence occurred after the boy offered to accompany the teenage girl to buy alcohol and said he knew a shortcut to a nearby bottle shop. He instead led her into a park, where he forced himself on her despite her protests and attempts to push him away. The girl told the ACT Supreme Court in a victim impact statement that she was still suffering from haunting thoughts and missed being able to leave the house freely without fear.

The boy pleaded guilty to charges including sexual assault in the third degree, committing acts of indecency, choking, strangling or suffocating another person, and theft. Justice Louise Taylor said he had a severe neurodevelopmental disorder and a difficult childhood, but knew his conduct was wrong. She described the offending as brazen, found he was remorseful and ashamed, and said rehabilitation was important while recognising the irrevocable harm to the victims. Justice Taylor commended both victims’ courage and expressed hope for their healing.