Prostitute planned to train young girl
A prostitute who plotted with a client to train up a 10-year-old girl for the sex trade has been sent to jail.
Former sports trainer Morgana Platt, 56, has previously been jailed for rape, and returned to court yesterday after scheming to coach the girl so she could be hired out.
She also sent her client a book she had written about children becoming prostitutes and performing for adults’ entertainment.
Platt used to be known as Malcolm John Platt, but now identifies as a woman.
She was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court to two years and nine months’ jail for dealing with a person under 18 for sexual exploitation, supplying a copy of an objectionable material, and three charges of breaching parole.
Platt was jailed in 2009 for raping and sexually violating a 16-year-old girl in Christchurch.
The teenager later took her own life, indicating Platt’s offending was the reason why, according to Parole Board documents.
Platt was recalled to prison in
2014 for breaching parole, having tried to get work in an industry from which she was banned.
The three latest breaches of parole involved her having an internetcapable device, and soliciting as a prostitute.
It was through her sex work that she met a man, who was a client for some time.
They came up with a plan in May
2017 to find a vulnerable girl Platt would seduce and train as a sex worker.
The client found a person who had a 10-year-old girl, and asked for a photo of the child.
One was sent, which he forwarded on to Platt, who responded with ‘‘yummy’’, ‘‘delicious’’ and that the child could do well in the sex industry.
The client was explicit with the person who had the child, saying he wanted to have sex with the girl.
There were also arrangements made to meet the girl, although that did not happen.
Platt also sent her client a 58-page book called ‘‘My Story in a Child’s World’’.
Judge Stephanie Edwards said the book contained descriptions of incest and children becoming prostitutes.
‘‘It supports and promotes the exploitation of children,’’ the judge said.
Defence lawyer Debbie Goodlet said Platt wanted to take part in rehabilitation programmes.
‘‘Her motivation and way forward is to get treatment, rehabilitation and look towards reintegration.’’
After her arrest, Platt said she took part in the plot with her client as a role play, but ceased involvement once she saw the photo. But the judge said she had ‘‘some difficulty’’ with that, mainly due to Platt’s ‘‘enthusiastic response’’ to seeing the photo.
While the girl did not come into contact with Platt or her client, it was still serious offending, the judge said.
‘‘The fact is that all the offences that do not involve direct contact [with a child] are undeniably capable of resulting in serious offending.
‘‘Sentences must deter people from even engaging in these plans or discussions if we are to stop the terrible harm that could arise if these plans came to fruition.’’