Party turns into night of horror for girl, 14

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl was burnt by a cigarette lighter and words such as “slut” and “whore” written all over her with markers during an attack by a group of men, which included her ex-boyfriend.

The top of a hot lighter was pressed on her arm and knee to create what’s known as a “smiley,” a court was told.

Details of the victim’s “traumatic” evening were heard in Southport District Court yesterday when one of the men involved in the prolonged attack was sentenced.

The 21-year-old Gold Coast man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and two counts of common assault.

He attempted to take the girl’s top off and wrote his own name on her leg when a small house party turned sinister on March 31 last year.

Police prosecutor Matt Hynes said the man, who was 20 at the time, was a bystander while the girl’s ex-boyfriend harmed her with the lighter.

“His actions show a complete disregard for women,” Mr Hynes said. “(The girl) had one very bad night.”

The 21-year-old man also placed a glass bottle against the girl’s head as if it was a gun and warned he would “shoot”.

The court was told the man was on probation at the time for offences of violence against his ex-girlfriend.

Defence barrister Clare Hurley said her client was intoxicated at the time and was an ice user.

“He assumed she was a little bit older,” Ms Hurley said.

“He does not wish to mix with that crowd any more.”

Ms Hurley said the man was now in a new relationship.

Judge Katherine McGinness sentenced him to nine months in jail with immediate parole. He served about six weeks in pre-sentence custody.

The attack’s main instigator, the girl’s ex-boyfriend, was sentenced in March to two-and-a-half years in jail.