Brisbane man admits to luring teen on net

Anthony John Porter, 37, from the Brisbane bayside suburb of Woody Point, had initially pleaded not guilty to four offences, including luring a 14-year-old Newfoundland girl over the internet and then sexually assaulting her when he arrived in her home town of Corner Brook.

Porter has been in police custody since his arrest on April 1, the same day he arrived in the Canadian town.

He had also been charged with the related offences of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching. A four-day trial had been set for June.

However, Porter made a hastily scheduled appearance in court in Corner Brook last week and changed his pleas to guilty to the internet-luring offence and a lesser charge of attempted sexual assault.

The other two sexual offences were withdrawn by Crown attorney Mike Fox.

Mr Fox and defence lawyer Keir O'Flaherty made a joint submission on sentencing, requesting a total sentence of 15 months, with Porter to be given credit for one month of time served.

Judge Wayne Gorman will not make his decision on Porter's ultimate sentence until Wednesday.

The joint submission also indicated Porter would be deported to Australia upon his release from prison in Canada.

The agreed statement of facts was not read out in court, but the document detailed how the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary had received a complaint about a suspicious person in the Main Street area of Corner Brook on the evening of April 1.

The police investigated and found Porter in the company of the 14-year-old girl.

Witnesses had reported seeing Porter and the young girl holding hands and kissing, though this was not confirmed for the court.

The subsequent police investigation revealed that Porter and the girl had been communicating via a teen chat room on the internet for more than a year before he arrived in Corner Brook.

Both Porter and the girl were aware of each other's ages and they mutually decided to meet in Corner Brook. Porter, who was on vacation from his job as a technician in Australia, stayed at a local bed and breakfast, and the two spent several hours together after he arrived.

He bought her alcohol and two gifts: a ring and a necklace.

The statement of facts indicates Porter tried to kiss the girl several times, but she would not let him.

The police later examined the girl's laptop computer, with the consent of her mother.

While Porter used his real name, Tony Porter, and the girl used a sexually explicit nickname, there were no explicit sexual references in their exchanges, which included instant messages. Skype software was also found, which allows both parties to see each other via web cameras.

Still, the statement of facts concurred that the nature of the communication was intended to facilitate the two meeting to engage in sexual activity.

Porter has no known criminal record and seems to have come from a stable family, the court heard.

He is separated from his wife, with whom he has two sons. He has a daughter from another relationship.

Mr O'Flaherty said his client knows he showed "an alarming lack of judgment" by his actions and was genuinely remorseful for this "remarkable" turn of events.

When given the opportunity to address the court himself, Porter said he wanted to have this matter dealt with so he could serve his sentence and return to his family.

"I apologise to anyone who had the misfortune to be involved with this," he told Judge Gorman.

Western Star, Newfoundland