Melissa Iaria From: AAP May 10, 2011 1:29PM
A VICTORIAN basketball coach who had sex with a teenage girl will spend nine months behind bars.
The County Court heard Jamie Conway was coach and president of his suburban basketball association when he began a three-month sexual relationship with the girl.
His crimes came to light after the girl's mother found explicit text messages on a mobile phone.
Conway, 27, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexually penetrating a child under 16 and one of an indecent act with a child under 16.
The court heard he and the girl were friends, but their relationship turned sexual after the girl told him she liked him.
In sentencing, Judge Irene Lawson said although Conway did not coerce the girl, his actions were grossly inappropriate.
Judge Lawson said that in his role as coach, he had committed a breach of trust involving a young vulnerable person.
She accepted his offending was situational and not predatory, but said the law must act to protect children, including adolescents.
"I'm satisfied you did understand what you did was wrong and your culpability was high,'' she said.
The court heard Conway was immature and lacked insight into his behaviour, believing the girl was a peer capable of agreeing to a sexual relationship.
At the time of the offending he was depressed and was having problems at work and with his girlfriend.
Since being charged, he had cut himself off from the basketball world, which was a major social outlet for him, the court was told.
Judge Lawson said Conway had undergone counselling and there was a low chance he would reoffend.
Conway, of Melton, was jailed for three years, to serve nine months immediately.
The remainder of his term was suspended for three years.
He had no prior convictions.
What if it was this girl:
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