Craig Anthony Mclean, 30, from Gympie, Queensland, sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in a park and threatened to kill her if she called police has been sentenced to just nine months behind bars.
According to a report by The Courier Mail, the relationship initially started with months of ‘hugging and kissing’ before he raped her in late 2019 at a park when she refused his advances.
The girl reported the incident to police and he was charged with two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, one count of having carnal knowledge with a child under 16, and one count of possessing child exploitation material.
Last week, Mclean tried to take his own life twice hours before his hearing at Gympie District Court.
Mclean pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years and three months in prison with the remainder of the term to be suspended once he serves nine months.
The court heard the girl had told McLean she was not ready for sex in November 2018 and ran away from him during an encounter that year when he reached beneath her bra and pants after she told him to stop. They met again a few months later in a park, exchanging sexually explicit photos into 2019.
Mclean convinced the girl to meet him again, promising nothing would happen between them, but slowly began touching her despite her resistance.
When he ripped open her pants and she threatened to call the police if he did not stop, Mclean said that he will take her life if she calls the police. She fought back until he stopped and he eventually dropped her home, the court heard.
The following day, the girl reported the incident to the police.
In November 2019, Mclean was charged after voluntarily attending the local police station, and released on bail on the condition that he will not use social media, which he then breached several times.
Mclean was arrested again in January for threatening to kill anyone who reported him to police and placed in custody before being released on bail again in August.
The morning of last week’s hearing, Mclean was rushed to hospital after trying to take his life in a park before making a second attempt later that day, the court heard.
The judge said his behavior throughout the course of the case’s proceedings had demonstrated ‘substantial self-interest’ rather than remorse for his victim.