REGINALD YOUNG'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN LAUNCESTON: CHILD SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR PERVERTED ACTS AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing series of criminal acts committed in Launceston, Tasmania, Reginald Robert Young, aged 26, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple heinous offenses involving child exploitation and sexual assault. The gravity of his crimes spans several years, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that has shocked the local community and prompted serious legal repercussions.

In June 2016, police investigators uncovered a disturbing cache of digital material on Young’s computer, which included a total of 342 images and videos depicting children aged between four and fifteen. Among these files, two videos were classified as 'most serious' by Magistrate Ken Stanton, highlighting the severity of the content. Magistrate Stanton emphasized that these images and videos represented only a small fraction of Young’s extensive criminal record, which includes multiple prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors.

Young’s criminal history is extensive and deeply troubling. He was already serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of raping two teenage girls, aged 13 and 14, whom he met through Facebook in February 2016. His crimes extended beyond the initial assault, as he was also charged with kidnapping the 14-year-old girl. The court proceedings revealed that Young had used social media and text messaging to groom his victims, expressing love and affection to manipulate them into meeting him. His predatory tactics included grooming young girls online and exploiting their trust for his own gratification.

Further investigations uncovered additional disturbing evidence. Police found 27 sexual images and videos of the 14-year-old girl, along with material involving two other minors, on Young’s computer. These findings underscored the extent of his sexual exploitation and the ongoing threat he posed to children in the community.

Young’s history of sexual misconduct dates back several years. In 2012, he was jailed for six months after engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl in his car and in a women’s toilet cubicle in 2011. His criminal record also includes an incident where he digitally assaulted a 12-year-old female family friend in a toilet block, an act that was only interrupted when her friends intervened after witnessing him carry her into the restroom. These repeated offenses demonstrate a pattern of grooming and predatory behavior, often involving young girls and minors.

During the court proceedings, Magistrate Stanton described Young as having the psycho-sexual maturity of a 14 or 15-year-old boy, emphasizing his emotional immaturity. Despite his age, Young had been placed on the sex offenders registry for 20 years due to his previous crimes, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the community’s need for ongoing monitoring.

In a related case from February 2012, Young was sentenced to six months in prison for child sex offenses committed while he was on bail for other charges. The court heard that he had seduced and engaged in sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl in May 2011, five months after being arrested for an earlier assault on a 12-year-old girl. Chief Justice Ewan Crawford condemned Young’s actions, noting that his decision to pursue the second girl despite being under trial for the first demonstrated a concerning attitude towards underage girls. The possession of child exploitation material further compounded his culpability, leading to a sentence of six months’ imprisonment.

Young’s criminal conduct involved multiple instances of grooming, sexual assault, and possession of child pornography, all committed in and around Launceston. His actions have left a lasting impact on his victims and have prompted a comprehensive legal response aimed at protecting children and deterring similar offenders in the future.