{
  "id": 1885172,
  "title": "Two men jailed over raping 14yo girl in back of van",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/two-men-jailed-over-raping-14yo-girl-in-back-of-van",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T07:20:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-19/two-men-jailed-for-rape-of-14yo-girl/107049244"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Clinton Parry Harris, 30, and Sheldon Todd Barron, 25, have been sentenced to prison for raping a 14-year-old girl in the back of a van. The pair had befriended the victim on social media and met her in Geraldton, Western Australia, driving 440 kilometres north to arrange to meet her. Harris had paid for the girl's bus ticket to Perth, but when she missed the bus, he drove 440 kilometres to Geraldton instead. They smoked cannabis before the trip and the girl consented to kissing and oral sex, but later became reluctant, leading to multiple acts of sexual penetration. Both men believed they had received consent from the victim, who had previously expressed concerns about her father finding out. Judge Lawrence Levy rejected their claims of consent and emphasized her age as a red flag. Harris was sentenced to two years and eight months, with parole eligibility after 16 months, while Barron received a two-year and two-month sentence, eligible for parole after 13 months. The judge emphasized the profound impact on the victim and her family, commending her bravery in coming forward.",
  "summary": "Two men who sexually penetrated a child in a van with a mattress in the back and seats removed will serve at least a year in jail.",
  "key_points": [
    "Clinton Parry Harris, 30, and Sheldon Todd Barron, 25, jailed for raping 14-year-old girl",
    "Pair befriended victim on social media, met in Geraldton, WA, drove 440km to meet her",
    "Judge rejected claims of consent, emphasized victim's age as red flag"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The judge's rejection of the men's claims of consent and emphasis on the victim's age sets a significant precedent in this case, highlighting the vulnerability of minors in sexual encounters.",
  "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."
}