Prison guard gets jail

A BARWON Prison guard has been sentenced to a jail term for sexually assaulting a 15year-old girl in a spa at his Lara home.

Guy Bliss, 48, was sentenced on Friday to three months in jail after a magistrate found him guilty of four charges, including sexual assault.

He was later released on bail after lodging an appeal.

Geelong Magistrates Court was told the spa incident took place in early 2020 during a boozy gathering at Bliss’s home.

Bliss, a father of two, was the only adult at the party, which was mostly attended by teenagers.

It was alleged he had been drinking heavily before entering a spa with several girls, including the 15-year-old victim.

The court heard Bliss rubbed the teen’s thigh multiple times, moved his hand over her genitalia and at one stage asked her for a kiss.

It was also alleged that he tried to move his hand underneath the girl’s shorts.

Magistrate Franz Holzer said he did not believe Bliss’s conduct was accidental, stating his actions “crossed the line”.

The teenage girl told the court via a victim impact statement that the incident had left her traumatised.

“The tears I’ve cried from this are endless,” she said.

“I am disgusted one human can do this to another human.”

Bliss was also found guilty of using obscene language in public and making a threat to kill, which involved separate victims.

He was acquitted of charges alleging he exposed himself to another 15-year-old girl several weeks before the sexual assault.

Defence lawyer David Cronin urged the court to spare Bliss a jail term amid fears for his safety due to his position as a prison guard.

“Even in protection, everyone is going to know he’s a screw,” he said.

Prosecutor acting Sergeant Siobhan Daly argued a prison term was warranted, noting the significant impact on the young victim. Mr Holzer said the sentence needed to reflect Bliss’s behaviour towards the teenager.

“This is a gross breach of trust,” he said.

On top of the jail term, Bliss was convicted and fined $1000.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for eight years.

Bliss will remain on bail until his appeal hearing in the County Court.