THE lawyer for a Riverlander who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an eight-year-old has told a court the act was a “cry for help”.
Berri man Beau Seeby, 24, earlier this month pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl in the bathroom of a Riverland community club.
The Advertiser reported prosecutor Rebecca Schell said the incident – which occurred on October 6, 2019 – had been Mr Seeby’s second charge of assault.
“He has a prior offence of aggravated indecent assault for which he was released, without conviction, on an 18-month, $100 bond,” Ms Schell told The Advertiser.
“(Now) we have a young, very vulnerable victim to whom he was a stranger, which is just as serious as a person who knows their victim.
“His behaviour was opportunistic and predatory… clearly, this has been a highly traumatising event for a very young girl.”
Mr Seeby – who claimed there was no motivation behind the assault – earned up to 30 per cent off the maximum 10-year sentence with his guilty plea.
However, the Advertiser reported Ms Schell said CCTV evidence illustrated Mr Seeby had a clear understanding of his actions during the incident.
“He watched the victim enter the toilets, kept a lookout around him as he moved toward them, he knew that she was on her own,” she said.
“It was a confined area with only one way in and out. Throughout the assault he told the girl to be quiet, she described being held loosely around the neck.
“She later told police she was scared, sad and did not want to be hurt, so she did not say or do anything to raise the alarm.”
The Advertiser reported Mr Seeby’s lawyer, Leesah Randal, said mental health issues had left her client feeling isolated from the community.
“There were a lot of bad things happening in his life … he was struggling with his mental health (and) self-medicating with meth and cannabis,” Ms Randal told The Advertiser.
“He attempted to get help in the community but felt no one was listening… he was in a place where he was feeling hopeless and alone… this was a cry for help.”
Mr Seeby was remanded in custody and will face sentencing next month.