Man Sentenced to Over Five Years for Sexual Offenses Against Teenagers

A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to over five years in prison for sexual offenses against two teenagers, following a trial in the ACT Supreme Court.

Sentencing and Charges

Liam Anthony Thornton was sentenced to five years and three months in jail by Justice Belinda Baker. A jury found Thornton guilty of 11 offenses, including sexual intercourse without consent, committing an act of indecency without consent, and grooming.

The court set a non-parole period of three years and two months, making Thornton eligible for release in 2029.

He was taken into custody following the sentencing, having previously been on bail.

Background of the Offenses

The offenses occurred in the early 2020s when Thornton was in his early 20s. He met both victims through a shared interest in reptiles. One victim was under 16 years old at the time, and the other was under 18.

Court Findings on the Offenses

The court found that Thornton groomed and indecently assaulted the younger victim over a period of weeks through online and in-person contact. According to evidence presented in court, this included persistent messages on Snapchat with sexual content, requests for intimate photos, and, during a visit to the zoo, hugging her from behind and touching her breasts.

The court also found that Thornton repeatedly sexually assaulted the older victim. Evidence presented included an incident at a social gathering where he repeatedly kissed her after she told him to stop, and a separate occasion where he lured her into a work van and forcibly raped her.

Justice Baker stated that Thornton's conduct involved a breach of authority due to the age difference with the younger victim.

She found the motivation for the offenses was Thornton's sexual gratification.

Defense Arguments and Judicial Response

During the proceedings, Thornton's defense argued he may have misinterpreted one victim's response due to his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and her "frozen" state.

Justice Baker accepted Thornton's autism diagnosis but stated it "wasn't the case here" that it affected his understanding of consent. She found Thornton had a "proper understanding" of the need for consent and that the diagnosis did not reduce his moral culpability. Justice Baker also determined Thornton was not remorseful and had little insight into his offending.

Impact on the Victims

Statements from the victims were presented to the court.

• The older victim described the assault as "the most scary, traumatising, dehumanising experience of my whole life," stating it left her feeling "fear, sickness and disgust."
• The younger victim stated she was groomed by "a man I'd known and trusted for years."

Both victims described losing the joy they once associated with the reptile zoo, with the younger victim stating the experience ended her dream of working there.