A man has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for raping a teenager who was under the care of South Australia's Department for Child Protection after she had an argument with her foster carers.
Ricky Brown, 33, has been sentenced to over eight years in jail for the rape of a 15-year-old girl who was under the care of South Australia's Department for Child Protection. The incident occurred after the girl had an argument with her carers, leading her to seek out a group of individuals near the Colonnades Shopping Centre in Adelaide's southern suburbs. Sadly, this decision led her to be isolated with Brown, who took advantage of the situation.
During the trial, Judge Lisa Dunlop highlighted that after Brown encountered the teenager, he provided her with alcohol and walked with her towards his home, where the assault took place. Brown’s actions were particularly egregious, given the vulnerable position of the victim who was already in a precarious situation due to her being in state care.
Brown will be eligible for parole in June 2029, which raises concerns about the safety of similar vulnerable individuals in the future. This case exemplifies the severe consequences of predatory behavior towards at-risk youth and underscores the importance of providing better protective measures for teenagers in state custody to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
