Nathaniel Roberts: Pizza delivery man who impregnated girl, 15, appeals for lighter sentence citing victim's 'consent'
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VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: A pizza delivery guy who impregnated a 15-year-old child is appealing for a reduced sentence in court. Nathaniel Roberts, who was 24 at that time pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16. The Morwell man is serving five-and-a-half years in prison with a non-parole period of three years in the County Court. Attorney Joe Connolly for Roberts told the court on Tuesday, April 18, “In so far as a child can give consent, she did,” before adding, the victim had shown “more than acquiescence” during their sexual relationship.
Connolly told Justices Karin Emerton and Terence Forrest that their interaction didn’t involve ‘grooming, no force nor any “overbearing” will be involved in the pair’s sexual relationship, which he referred “relatively short.” On the other side, Robyn Harper, representing the Crown reminded that the maximum penalty Roberts faced was 15 years. And, he was given ‘only 33 percent’ of that maximum penalty. Harper said the crime was ‘particularly serious since the offender Roberts’ chose to ejaculate inside the victim leading to pregnancy. The sentence imposed was ‘clearly not outside the range. The consequences were significant.”
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'Roberts ended relationship after victim got pregnant'
As per the written prosecution summary made public by the County Court, Roberts and the victim met at a house in Traralgon in August 2020 for the first time, and soon it turned into a sexual relationship. In late September, the victim told her mother that she may be pregnant and the age of her father is estimated to be around 25. Roberts, as per the court document initially told the victim that he’d be supporting her and would like to have an abortion, but then ended the relationship soon afterward, as per NY Post.
'The victim was a willing participant'
County Court Judge Michael McInerney during the sentencing last year said the sexual intercourse was “willing in the sense the victim was a willing participant.” However, he added that the legislation was built to protect young children, and at law, ‘there could be no consent.’ Justices Emerton and Forrest have reserved their decision after Tuesday’s hearing.