{
  "id": 13871689,
  "title": "Teenager who raped girl, 14, jailed under 'adult time' laws",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/teenager-who-raped-girl-14-jailed-under-adult-time-laws",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T04:33:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-12/queensland-teenager-jailed-for-raping-girl/107256604"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to over five years in prison under adult crime laws after raping a 14-year-old girl. The incident occurred in September last year in Far North Queensland, where the offender entered the girl's bedroom while she was sleeping. The victim had not consumed alcohol or drugs. Despite the girl repeatedly asking him to stop and struggling, the offender continued the assault. She sent a text afterwards to apologize, stating she had asked him to stop. Crown prosecutor Michael Lehane said the offense had a devastating impact on the victim and her family. The offender's parents appeared in court and were visibly upset, though defence lawyer Kelly Goodwin highlighted his supportive upbringing. The judge noted the offender's age and supportive home life but emphasized the profound impact on the victim. Following the sentencing, the offender will be eligible for parole in December 2028 and will serve his sentence in an adult prison.",
  "summary": "The offender was 16 when he sexually assaulted the girl in her bed last year.",
  "key_points": [
    "16-year-old boy sentenced over five years for raping 14-year-old girl",
    "Incident occurred in September last year in Far North Queensland",
    "Offender eligible for parole in December 2028 in adult prison"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Applying adult sentencing laws to a minor shifts the judicial focus from rehabilitative potential to the profound impact of the offense on the victim and their family.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}