A Salvation Army Salvos youth support worker has been jailed for a minimum six months after having sex with a 17-year-old girl who was staying at the homeless shelter where he worked.
Friday Fredrick Jeremiah, 35, was sentenced in the New South Wales District Court on Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to having sexual intercourse with a minor between the ages of 17 and 18 who was in his care.
The court heard how Jeremiah worked as a therapeutic youth support worker and used the girl’s “vulnerability” to get close with her and have sexual intercourse with her.
He was sentenced to nine months jail with a non-parole period of six months.
The court heard how Jeremiah asked the girl “what she was into” sexually.
“This caused the victim to feel uncomfortable and she did not say much,” the court heard.
The therapeutic youth support worker later led the victim away from the shelter to a nearby park, grabbed her head and kissed her which she said also made her feel “uncomfortable”.
He then led her to a tree and pulled down her pants before engaging in sexual activity.
Jeremiah then returned to the shelter, telling the girl to wait 10 minutes before coming back so as not to draw suspicion.
The girl then messaged a friend to tell her what had happened.
Jeremiah then proceeded to message the girl for months, even after she left the shelter for long-term accommodation.
At one stage he sent her a picture of his genitalia with the message: “Let the sleeping dog lay” to which she did not respond.
The victim later sent Jeremiah a message about boundaries and told him their relationship was unprofessional and should not be continued.
She then made a complaint about Jeremiah.
Judge Andrew Scotting said in his sentencing Jeremiah was “deceptive” and “secretive” about their relationship.
Early on, Jeremiah asked her to save his contact as “Uncle Chad” so no one would know it was “his number”.
He also told her she was his “favorite client” and not to tell other workers about their friendship.
He also would give the victim “life advice” and emotional support while she stayed at the center.
Judge Scotting said while the issue of consent was not a factor in the case, the conduct was “a serious breach of trust”.
He also noted the “significant age gap” at play.
“The victim was a resident because she was vulnerable and the offender took advantage of that vulnerability to get close to her and have sexual intercourse with her,” Judge Scotting said.
The court heard how Jeremiah was the sole income earner of his family.
He also sends money back home to family members in Nigeria from where he emigrated from to Australia in 2008.
Judge Scotting noted Jeremiah had a good work history and was an active volunteer at his church.
However, he noted his good character was “reduced to some extent” because the offender “relied on his good character to become a carer for vulnerable people such as the victim”.
One of Jeremiah’s relatives, who was in court during his sentencing, began loudly crying in the court room as he was taken into custody.
He will be eligible for parole on December 3.
The Salvation Army has been contacted by news.com.au for comment.
