A teenager who was awaiting sentencing for rape when he repeatedly sexually abused a 12-year-old girl he met on Tinder has been jailed for two years.
AJP, now 19, was this week sentenced to two years in prison in the Supreme Court of Tasmania after pleading guilty to four counts of penetrative abuse of a child.
He was 18 when he met the victim on Tinder, where her profile listed her age as 23.
On June 23, 2025, AJP arranged for his NDIS support worker to drive him to collect the girl, bringing a machete with him.
The worker became suspicious of the child’s appearance and reported the situation to police.
Police officers, the support worker and family members later attended AJP’s unit and explicitly told him the girl was 12.
“… It was made very clear to you, by persons in authority, that the child was 12,” Justice Tamara Jago said.
“You were encouraged to send her from your unit and tell her to go home.” AJP refused.
Over the next two days, he had unprotected intercourse with the child on four occasions.
At the time, AJP was on bail awaiting sentence for a rape conviction handed down in March 2025.
“It clearly demonstrates that you have little regard for the law and have an unwillingness to accept societal boundaries,” Justice Jago said.
The court heard AJP has autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and cognitive impairments stemming from a neglectful upbringing.
Justice Jago accepted the conditions made him prone to rash decisions but found they did not substantially reduce his moral culpability.
“… I am satisfied you knew she was 12 when you chose to engage in sexual intercourse with her on four separate occasions,” she said.
The victim has since experienced nightmares, flashbacks and difficulties at school.
AJP will become eligible for parole after one year behind bars and will be placed on the offender register for eight years following his release.
