By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A former McDonald’s restaurant manager has been jailed over sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.
Alexander Iswahyudi, 23, of Cranbourne, pleaded guilty at the County Court of Victoria to four counts of sexually penetrating a child under 16 over about a month in late 2021.
In sentencing on 11 November, Judge Gabriele Cannon said Iswahyudi made full admissions that he was well aware of the girl’s age and that he was committing a crime.
Their age gap was substantial, despite Iswahyudi’s “immaturity” for his age, the court heard.
“It was illegal and you well knew it,” Judge Cannons said.
“You were the adult and responsible for showing restraint.”
In a victim impact statement, the girl told the court she felt “used, dirty, gross and disrespected”.
She said she felt trapped in a claustrophobic situation in which Iswahyudi threatened to kill himself if she told anyone or police.
His offending was aggravated by having unprotected sex, exposing her to the risk of pregnancy and disease, the court heard.
Judge Cannon noted the teen felt “disgusted and ashamed” for being sucked into Iswahyudi’s “lies”.
“You have nothing to be ashamed about,” the judge told her during sentencing.
Judge Cannon told Iswahyudi his “serious” and “opportunistic” offending had “real effects” on the girl and her family.
The judge took into account that Iswahyudi was a youthful offender with “excellent” rehabilitation prospects.
She noted Iswahyudi’s strong work ethic, no prior convictions, supportive family, early guilty plea, commitment to “self improvement” and “genuine reform” as well as his vulnerability in jail.
Iswahyudi resigned as a McDonald’s manager after he was charged.
Now working as a venue manager and at a golf club, the keen basketballer was in an “age appropriate” relationship, Judge Cannon said.
He was assessed as a low to moderate risk of reoffending.
Iswahyudi was jailed for up to three years, including a non-parole period of nine months.
He will be a registered sexual offender for life.
