A 27-year-old Canberra man, Shegu Bobb, has been sentenced to three years and one month in jail for sexual offences against an 11-year-old girl he met on a dating site. The ACT Supreme Court found Bobb guilty in June of seven charges, including using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 for sex, transmitting an indecent image and child abuse material, and committing an act of indecency. He was cleared of charges of rape and a further act of indecency.
The court heard that the pair made contact on the dating app Badoo, where the girl indicated she was 19. However, Justice Belinda Baker said Bobb was well aware she must have been much younger, noting that at one point Bobb remarked: 'I can't believe you are that young.' Messages between them became increasingly sexualised, with Bobb asking the girl to send intimate images.
Justice Baker highlighted that Bobb told the victim 'he would keep her safe' and warned her about dangers posed by others online. He also sent a message urging her not to come to his car until another vehicle had left, taking action to ensure she would not be seen getting into his car. Once inside, the victim could not speak to Bobb, so they continued communicating on the Badoo app. When she expressed anxiety, he told her 'everything will be good'.
The pair drove to another location where the act of indecency occurred. The victim said, 'Please let me go … I'll get you into trouble.' Justice Baker said the crimes were made more serious by the girl's objections, noting that she repeatedly expressed anxiety. She described the offence as not opportunistic, but rather Bobb intended to encourage her to take part in sexual acts, and she was particularly vulnerable in his car.
Bobb was taken into custody after sentencing. The sentence is to be suspended after 15 months, meaning he will be eligible for parole in February 2027.
