Australian man sentenced for attempting to lure 13-year-old boy with PlayStation for sex
Luke Edward Reynolds, 29, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to seven offenses, including
indecent treatment of a child
and using electronic communications to procure a minor. The crimes occurred in April, 2024 after Reynolds initiated sexually explicit conversations with the victim on Snapchat.
Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol stated Reynolds sent multiple photos of his erect penis and an animated image of two men having sex, asking the boy,
"should we try this?"
He also offered a PlayStation in exchange for sexual acts.
Also read:
Baseball prodigy Wander Franco found guilty of sexually abusing minor in Dominican Republic court
Predatory behavior and failed meetup
Reynolds arranged to meet the boy outside Cannon Hill's YMCA in Brisbane, bringing a cooler bag containing lubricant, condoms, and anal cream. The boy became nervous and left on his bike. His parents later discovered the messages and alerted authorities.
Police took over the boy's account, leading Reynolds to schedule another meeting. Officers arrested him at the same location, finding the same cooler bag and explicit images of children on his phone.
Judge denounces "vile" crimes in sentencing
Judge Brad Farr called Reynolds' actions
"demonstrably serious"
and
"vile,"
noting he knew the victim was under 16.
"You placed your own sexual gratification to the forefront with little, if any, thought to the potential harm,"
Farr said.
Defense barrister Patrick Wilson argued Reynolds was remorseful and sexually naive, citing a psychologist's report. Reynolds was sentenced to two years in prison, with six months served before probation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Indian-origin teens pose as queers, target 2SLGBTQ+ members in Canada, detained
Three Indian-origin teenagers have been held in connection with a series of violent robberies in Brampton targeting members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community by posing as queer individuals, and attacking South Asians after luring them through social media, Canada's Peel Regional Police (PRP) has three separate incidents between April and May, suspects allegedly used social media to lure victims into in-person meetings under false pretences, where they were then robbed — at times at gunpoint, the PRP in May, two suspects were arrested in connection with the case, taking the total number of arrests to 5. "On Saturday, May 31, two suspects were initially arrested. However, as the investigation progressed, a total of six suspects were identified. Investigators now believe that the suspects relied on false pretences to target South Asians, including members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and lure them into meetings," the police said in a statement issued on earlier arrested persons were identified as 20-year-old Abhijot Singh from Brampton, while 21-year-old Ridhampreet Singh is from PORTRAYED THEMSELVES AS MEMBERS OF 2SLGBTQ+ COMMUNITYOn Friday, July 4, police executed search warrants at several residences in the Peel region. As a result, 18-year-old Hardil Singh Mehrok of Brampton and two male youths aged 16 and 17 were detained. All three individuals have been charged with two counts of kidnapping and three counts of robbery, according to the Bell, spokesperson for Peel Police, said the suspects portrayed themselves as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community to create a sense of trust among victims, CBC News noted that while Snapchat was the primary platform used to contact victims, other social media platforms may have also been SUSPECT STILL AT LARGE IN VIOLENT ROBBERIES PROBEThe police said that an arrest warrant has been issued for 20-year-old Preetpal Kooner of Mississauga for the same spokesperson said the investigation is "still very active" and police could potentially identify more offenders and charges over time, CBC believe there may be additional victims who have not come forward out of fear, the police added.A string of attacks highlights the growing threat to South Asian community members in the in May, three men of Indian origin were arrested in Brampton after allegedly opening fire inside a business establishment in an attempt to carry out extortion, the PRP said. Authorities stated that the incident is part of a broader pattern of crimes targeting South Asian-owned businesses in the region.- Ends
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
'It's gotten worse': Teen girls say Hockey Canada trial proves #MeToo failed to protect their generation
Kitchener high school students express concerns about safety following the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial(Getty Images) In the aftermath of the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial, a group of high school seniors from Kitchener, Ontario, are voicing what many women across the country are feeling — that despite the global attention from the #MeToo movement, little has changed when it comes to real-world safety, respect, and justice for young women. From the classroom to the workplace, consent remains misunderstood The girls, all 12th-graders, shared their daily experiences with harassment — not in viral headlines, but in grocery stores and bakeries, where older men make predatory remarks and ignore boundaries. Seventeen-year-old Samira Nur explained: 'I encounter a lot of creepy men… I'm at work, and under the expectation that I still have to treat these people with kindness, despite the fact that I'm being, like, fully disrespected.' Her classmate, Anna De Sousa, recounted a chilling annual encounter with an older male customer: 'Last year, he was like, 'You're 17 now. Next year, I'll be back. We're gonna go out.' Every time I see his face, my body literally starts shaking.' These aren't isolated incidents—they're part of a wider issue that the girls say their education barely prepared them for. Consent was glossed over in brief lessons, often through awkward metaphors like 'the tea video.' As Samira put it: 'It wasn't really treated very seriously.' Social media and toxic masculinity fuel the pressure The rise of online platforms has only made things worse. With Snapchat and Instagram, harassment is more anonymous, more constant, and more cruel. 'Honestly, I think it's gotten worse,' said Nishtha Tomer. 'They will not say a word to you in real life, but online, it's the meanest things.' And with influencers like Andrew Tate spreading misogynistic messages, girls like Loyd Gebreselassie are noticing a shift in male attitudes: 'This trend is growing with younger men… All these ideologies they've gathered and almost try to force onto women.' The teens acknowledge #MeToo helped break silence and remove shame. But legal and systemic progress feels distant. 'More so that than actually really solving anything,' said Shantelle Carrion. Also Read: When will the Hockey Canada sexual assault verdict be delivered? Judge sets crucial July 24 date Their message is clear: while the headlines may fade, the fight for safer spaces, better education, and deeper understanding of consent must continue—because for many young women, the danger never went away. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Time of India
Australian man sentenced for attempting to lure 13-year-old boy with PlayStation for sex
Former boat skipper jailed for grooming 13-year-old boy Luke Edward Reynolds, 29, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to seven offenses, including indecent treatment of a child and using electronic communications to procure a minor. The crimes occurred in April, 2024 after Reynolds initiated sexually explicit conversations with the victim on Snapchat. Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol stated Reynolds sent multiple photos of his erect penis and an animated image of two men having sex, asking the boy, "should we try this?" He also offered a PlayStation in exchange for sexual acts. Also read: Baseball prodigy Wander Franco found guilty of sexually abusing minor in Dominican Republic court Predatory behavior and failed meetup Reynolds arranged to meet the boy outside Cannon Hill's YMCA in Brisbane, bringing a cooler bag containing lubricant, condoms, and anal cream. The boy became nervous and left on his bike. His parents later discovered the messages and alerted authorities. Police took over the boy's account, leading Reynolds to schedule another meeting. Officers arrested him at the same location, finding the same cooler bag and explicit images of children on his phone. Judge denounces "vile" crimes in sentencing Judge Brad Farr called Reynolds' actions "demonstrably serious" and "vile," noting he knew the victim was under 16. "You placed your own sexual gratification to the forefront with little, if any, thought to the potential harm," Farr said. Defense barrister Patrick Wilson argued Reynolds was remorseful and sexually naive, citing a psychologist's report. Reynolds was sentenced to two years in prison, with six months served before probation.
