Teen's 'unprovoked' sexual assaults 'shattered' futures of jogger and 17yo

A 15-year-old boy who sexually assaulted a jogger and a 17-year-old girl in separate attacks has caused "catastrophic and irreversible harm" to both victims, a judge has said.

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The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, was handed a six-year-and-six-month jail sentence in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday, October 23.

His sentence will be suspended in May 2028 upon him entering a good behaviour order.

The now-17-year-old sat hunched over his legs with his head down as Justice Louise Taylor handed down her sentence.

Justice Taylor said the boy's actions had "devastating consequences" for the two victims and the community.

"It is the kind of offending conduct which undoubtedly causes alarm across the community and from which we must all be protected," she said.

Boy's 'unprovoked attacks'

The 17-year-old girl is one of two people sexually assaulted by the boy less than three months apart in 2025, alongside a 60-year-old jogger.

An agreed statement of facts states that the younger victim met the then-15-year-old one night in March 2025 while out with friends.

The two went to get alcohol and he insisted they take a "shortcut". Soon, the victim realised they were nowhere near the store but in a park.

He then forcefully tried to kiss her before pushing her to the ground and repeatedly sexually assaulting her while she tried to shove him away. During the attack, he choked the girl as she protested in numerous ways.

The ACT Supreme Court, where the boy was sentenced. Picture by Karleen Minney

At one stage, when a group of people walked past, he covered her mouth with his hand and told her not to say anything. He continued once they passed.

The victim later called her friends and police were contacted. The boy was arrested early that morning and granted bail.

In a statement read to the ACT Supreme Court earlier this year, the younger victim described suffering anxiety so severe she could not leave her house since the sexual assault.

"[I'm] still suffering with the haunting thoughts caused by this event," she said.

It was about 10.15am when the boy put his arms around the 60-year-old woman's neck and pulled backwards.

They went to the ground and he tightened his hold around her neck as she tried to kick and scratch him.

The victim lost consciousness, and when she came to she was able to scream and break free. But the boy grabbed her leg and pulled her back to him, saying "shush, just shush" before he struck her face twice.

He grabbed her hair and put his hand under her chin, pulling her head back. She believed the 15-year-old boy was going to break her neck.

He then indecently assaulted the woman before she was able to push him off with her knee. The boy stole her phone as he fled.

In a victim impact statement, the jogger said she was "hunted" by the boy, and thinks of "the tiger and the gazelle" when she recalls the attack.

"I told myself that if I didn't fight back, I was surely going to die," she said. "He took away my freedom, my freedom to feel safe, my freedom to be in nature."

Victims' futures 'shattered'

On Friday, Justice Taylor said the boy's "unprovoked attacks" demonstrated that the "insidious harm caused by sexual violence does not discriminate".

"The hope that both victims had for their, perhaps quite different, futures has been equally shattered," Justice Taylor said.

"[The boy] has caused catastrophic and irreversible harm to both women, and the sentence I impose must recognise that."

Justice Taylor noted the boy was "unable to explain" his actions towards either victim, though she accepted he had since expressed remorse.

When speaking about the assault on the 17-year-old, he told officials he was "intoxicated" and "unable to control himself".

Regarding the attack on the jogger, he said: "It feels like something took over. I don't know why I did this. Emotions were all over the place. I feel a lot of shame about this."

The judge said the fact he was on bail when he attacked the jogger was a "betrayal of the opportunity given to him" after the sexual assault of the 17-year-old.

The judge said she was satisfied that the boy "knew it was wrong" when he committed the crimes.

While she noted the boy had a "strong capacity for rehabilitation", she said that prospect should not "entirely eclipse" the need to recognise the severe harm he caused.

"His conduct has had severe consequences," she said.

"The sentence I impose cannot undo the harm that [the boy] has undoubtedly caused. I commend [the victims'] courage and hope for their healing."

• Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; beyondblue 1300 224 636; Canberra Rape Crisis Centre 6247 2525

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