A woman who gave a 13-year-old boy methamphetamine before sexually assaulting him under the direction of her then-partner on the Sunshine Coast has been spared further jail time.
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Emily Jean Taylor-Renolds, 33, of Caboolture, faced Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to supplying a dangerous drug to a child and carnal knowledge of a child.
Taylor-Renolds also pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent treatment of a child and one count of involving a child in the making of exploitation material.
Crown prosecutor Stephen Muir said Taylor-Renolds had engaged in “disgraceful conduct” with the victim after he started attending the couple’s unit on the Sunshine Coast in October 2018.
“Taylor-Renolds’ then-partner Michael Anthony Holbeck was the driving force behind it,” Mr Muir said.
Holbeck, then aged 33, was sentenced in February 2020 to three years’ imprisonment.
Holbeck urged the boy to engage in sexual activity with Taylor-Renolds and gave him methamphetamine to smoke when he refused.
The couple took photos and video during their subsequent sexual assault of the boy.
“The impact on the victim has been devastating. He has issue with trust. He has been homeless. It has affected his schooling,” Mr Muir said.
“He has had thoughts of self-harm and suicide. He started using meth.”
Defence barrister Tracy Thorp said Taylor-Renolds had mental health issues and had suffered abuse throughout her life.
“She was subject to a coercive relationship with Holbeck … The case is quite unique. (Holbeck) had significant control over her,” Ms Thorp said.
Taylor-Renolds stood sobbing in the dock as Justice Lincoln Crowley told her she would not be sentenced further jail time beyond her six days in custody when first arrested.
“The victim was in fact groomed and preyed upon for your purposes, in particular for Holbeck’s sexual gratification,” Justice Crowley said.
He told Taylor-Renolds she had been a willing participant.
“It was disgusting and morally reprehensible conduct: the sexual coercion of a young boy,” Justice Crowley said.
“It was a gross breach of trust of both of you as adults, especially as his mother had previously spoken to you about your negative influence on her son.”
Justice Crowley told Taylor-Renolds the victim was now a profoundly disturbed young man who faced many difficulties in life.
“He can’t even sleep at night because he has nightmares thinking about what happened to him. I hope you appreciate that. It’s the impact of your criminal offending,” he said.
Justice Crowley said it appeared to him that Holbeck received a “light sentence” but he had to give a similar term to Taylor-Renolds.
A psychiatrist’s report said Taylor-Renolds had autism spectrum disorder with mild intellectual impairment and a history of being exploited by older men.
Justice Crowley said he accepted Taylor-Renolds had been threatened with violence by Holbeck and was motivated by a desire to please him.
“Holbeck was the instigator, the main manipulator,” he said.
Taylor-Renolds was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years and was placed on a 12-month probation order.
Taylor-Renolds said “no comment” as she left the court building.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732);Â National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028;Â Lifeline 13 11 14;Â Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
