Woman admits grooming and treating teenager indecently

A woman was not acting like a predator when she struck up a friendship with a teenager twenty years younger than her.

But Renee Kate Hickman's relationship with the 15-year-old became increasingly flirtatious, Brisbane District Court Judge John Allen said on Friday.

Hickman, then 35, spent hours on the phone with him, exchanging hundreds of text messages each day and calling him “her love.”

Judge Allen said the content of the messages became increasingly sexualised, with Hickman sending photos of herself partially clothed or topless with her hands on her breasts.

She also got into bed with the teenager, kissed him and allowed him to deal with her indecently.

Hickman engineered situations in which she could be with the boy, only stopping the “relatively short preparation period” when police intervened.

Judge Allen said the relationship began as a friendship rather than because Hickman was acting like a predator at the time.

He took into account steps she had taken towards rehabilitation, such as undergoing counseling and finding employment.

The court heard a psychological assessment which found she was at a very low risk of general reoffending and there was no evidence of pedophilia or wider teenage sexual interest.

“I also take into account that there are factors in your own upbringing which appear to have contributed to making you psychologically vulnerable to poor judgment in the progression of your relationship with the complainant,” Judge Allen said.

Hickman, who has no relevant previous convictions, pleaded guilty to one count each of grooming a child under 16 and indecent treatment of a child under 16.

Judge Allen said the case was finely balanced, with Hickman facing the prospect of serving time behind bars.

But he ruled her rehabilitation could continue in the community, giving her a suspended prison sentence on one charge and a probation order on the other.

Hickman will be subject to reportable offender legislation for a minimum of five years, with one conviction recorded.

She spent 22 days in custody for making contact with the teenager in breach of her bail conditions.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redressal Service 1800 211 028