Two girls then were 15 and 16 of age, has been sexually abused by a gymnastic coach at the gym school they attended. The girls were sexually exploited between August 2008 and December 2009 as well as from April 2011 - October 2010. However, the court has heard that neither of the victims showed resentment towards their suspects.
The first teen victim, who can't be named for some legal reasons, met Shaun Allan Todd in 2008 and had a sexual relationship with him, having sexual intercourse two times in a week. The second teen victim reportedly had sex acts with Todd while training in his gymnastic school. She told the police that they had talked about their relationship was "unlawful" despite the suspect, who was 26-years-old at that time, saying he thought the legal age of consent was 16.
The suspect admitted the crimes and was sentenced to two years and 11-months imprisonment. However, according to news.com.au, District Court Judge Steven Millsteed suspended the sentence, telling risk of Todd reoffending against teenage girls was "remote to non-existent."
The judge though pointed out that the case was still far-reaching and the suspect can no longer pursue her career as a gymnastic coach and PE teacher. The judge accepted the evidence of the legal age of consent in the first teen, who was sexed by the suspect at the age of 16. However, the second victim was only 15, and the defendant knew his relationship with the teen was unlawful.
Neither of the two victims said they have bad feelings towards the suspect. However, one held that the relationship had affected her negatively. Judge Millsteed said young people don't realize the impacts that sexual activities will have on them until later life. He added that these young people should be protected from sexual exploitation.
Studies conducted by David Finkelhor, the Director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center, showed that during a one-year period in America, 16 percent of juveniles with age 14 - 17 had been sexually offended and over the course of their lifetime, 28 percent of American youth between 14 and 17 had been sexually molested. This is according to The National Center for Victims of Crime. A teen who is a victim of prolonged sexual abuse normally develops a feeling of insignificance, low self-esteem and distorted or abnormal interpretation of sex, according to experts.
