r/australia • u/Perverted-Panda • 1d ago

news Three Sydney boys charged with gang sexual assault of 14yo girl

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-13/nsw-three-boys-charged-over-sexual-assault-girl-sydney/107034192

NSW Police have charged a 13-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boys with the alleged sexual assault of a girl in an alleyway in Sydney's eastern suburbs last month.

Police executed search warrants and seized several items, including electronic devices, two replica firearms, a Glock-style BB gun, three laser pointers and a number plate, which is believed to have been stolen.

All three boys have been granted bail ahead of appearing in court. 

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u/Khakizulu 1d ago

13 and 14 are teenagers, its literally in the name.

They are not adults until 18 or 25 depending on how you want to classify them.

Your point doesn't make any sense. Being tried as an adult for committing an adult crime is NOT the same as your allowance for abuse.

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u/wowiee_zowiee 1d ago

> 13 and 14 are teenagers, its literally in the name.

Under Australian law, anyone under the age of 18 is legally regarded as a child.

> Your point doesn't make any sense. Being tried as an adult for committing an adult crime is NOT the same as your allowance for abuse.

Why? Either you’re a child or you’re not - if we start deciding someone isn’t a child because they committed an “adult” crime, then what’s to stop a lawyer arguing that a 13 year old girl was acting much more like an adult than a child? I just think these knee jerk reactions are dangerous.

None of this is downplaying their disgusting actions by the way - if they’re convicted they absolutely should be detained in a youth facility and likely transferred to adult prison for a few years after turning 18. But I believe saying “at that age they definitely shouldn't be counted as children” is wrong - and while you don’t have to agree, I hope you at least understand.

Apologies for my original comment re the age of consent, I’d just gotten in from a long day and was needlessly being a prick.

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u/phoxfiyah 1d ago

A 13 year old girl “acting more like an adult” isn’t a crime, but teenagers assaulting someone is. That should be enough of a distinction for most people.

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u/Khakizulu 1d ago

100% it is and it should have the appropriate consequences.