A former Adelaide Crows marketing official has avoided a jail sentence after exchanging "prurient" and "entirely inappropriate" messages with two undercover police officers he thought were teenagers.
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Justin Kremmer, who now lives in Perth, pleaded guilty to two counts of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity.
One charge involved messages over an internet app between the 31-year-old and someone he thought was a 14-year-old boy and the other was an officer he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
He was arrested after sending a football jumper to one of his supposed victims.
In sentencing on Tuesday, District Court Judge Paul Cuthbertson said Kremmer had used a false name on both occasions.
"I have seen a transcript of the communications, it's clear they are prurient and entirely inappropriate to be had with a 14-year-old child," he said.
"At the time you were in certain mental distress and you probably obtained some sort of sexual gratification by involving yourself in these rather stupid communications."
But he said no actual children were hurt and Kremmer was considered to be a low risk of reoffending.
Judge Cuthbertson placed him on a $2000, three-year, good behaviour bond and also ordered his mother act as a guarantor.
In earlier sentencing submissions, prosecutor Kelly Smith said Kremmer had engaged in "persistent and salacious" behaviour which had serious potential to corrupt if directed to a "truly vulnerable child".
"The communications and images were not fleeting encounters. He was persistent in his attempts to try and meet up with this child for his own sexual gratification," Ms Smith said.
But defence counsel Craig Caldicott said at the time of the offending last year Kremmer was having trouble with alcohol and gambling.
"His whole world came crashing down on him," Mr Caldicott said.
"He lost his job. His relationship of some four years was finalised."
Kremmer's sentencing comes amid a troubled time for the Adelaide Crows, with forward Tyson Stengle recently charged with drink driving and driving while disqualified, and both Stengle and midfielder Brad Crouch caught by police allegedly in possession of an illicit substance early on Monday.
Stengle is due to face court again next month over the driving charges when they are expected to be finalised.
Both he and Crouch have been referred to a drug diversion program over the alleged possession.
Australian Associated Press
