A Grafton woman will be eligible for parole in July 2022 after being convicted of historic child sex offences.
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The sentencing hearing was held on September 17, 2020 in the Port Macquarie District Court.
The 45-year-old woman and the victim cannot be named.
Judge Ellis convicted the woman of two counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a victim aged under 14 years and aggravated indecency with a victim aged under 16 years and under authority.
The charges relate to incidents that occurred between October 2005 and December 2010.
Judge Ellis set an aggregated jail term of seven years dated from July 19, 2019, expiring on July 18, 2026. He also set a three-year non-parole period ending in July 2022.
The woman is currently serving a jail sentence on an unrelated matter, and appeared via audio visual link.
Wearing prison greens the woman remained calm, listening intently to the proceedings, making notes during the hearing.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Ellis said that a co-offender had played a significant role in having his desires, not only in relation to the accused but also his desires involving the victim, in sexual conduct.
"The accused in this matter was in some form of convoluted relationship with the co-offender," he said.
"It seems that she did not know her co-offender was married and he exercised a level of control over the accused."
This conduct included her having sex with men and groups of men where he would be filming it; showering with the victim and the accused and filming acts of sexual intercourse.
"The criminality has to take into context and background that the incidents the victim was subjected to were completely inappropriate sexual conduct and completely inappropriate conduct to witness sexual activity between the accused and the co-offender.
"I do accept the accused was under the influence of the co-offender," he said.
Victim impact statements
Judge Ellis noted the victim impact statement that was read to the court.
He also referred to a letter from the woman "which is an apology where she accepts responsibility and expresses remorse and contrition".
A psychiatric report indicated that the accused was "a pleaser".
Defence counsel said the report indicated the accused wanted to try and please people.
"The difficult aspect of these matters before the court is that, from a psychiatric point of view, there is a constant willingness to try and please people," the defence said.
"That constant need to please people is what appears to be the role within the relationship with the co-offender."
However, the Crown prosecutor said the woman was overplaying the extent (of influence) the co-offender had on her.
"Firstly, the woman said she did not have a memory of doing those things (the charges) in her police interview," the prosecutor said.
But Judge Ellis said he accepted the accused said she didn't have a memory of these incidents.
"Once confronted, she lies, well, she's not the first person to do that," he said.
"One has to recognise a human trait of protecting herself."
Judge Ellis told the victim he hoped she could get on with her life with help and support of relevant organisations.
"These matters did not come to light until the victim was able to, quite courageously, come forward in 2019," he said.
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