Roland Isaac McKop, 46, went by the username “Classicman” on the social media appand told the 13-year-old he wanted to be her “sugar daddy” and would pay her for monthly sexual liaisons.
On Friday, he appeared before Judge Noel Cocurullo in the Hamilton District Court where he was jailed for two years and six months.
Judge Cocurullo told McKop that even if he got down to the two-year threshold where a sentence of home detention could be considered, he still wouldn’t have given him that, due to the pre-meditation, planning, and seriousness of his offending.
Hamilton man Roland Isaac McKop, 46, went by the username "Classicman" on Snapchat when he lured the teen victim with promises of cash. Photo / 123rf
The victim’s mother told the court the hardest truth to live with was knowing that her daughter would carry the experience with her throughout her entire life.
“A burden she should never have had to bear.”
‘I want to be your sugar daddy’
McKop added the victim as a friend on Snapchat on January 11 last year and they began chatting.
He told her he added her because her avatar looked cute. Through their messaging, he discovered she was only 13.
He then found her on another social media site but she blocked him again.
‘He’s got a lot to work through’
At his sentencing, Crown solicitor Scarlett Hartstone said while McKop had taken part in a restorative justice conference with the victim and her family, any discount for that should be tempered by his continuous refusal to acknowledge he was sexually attracted to children.
“Any rehabilitation couldn’t be meaningfully addressed until he admits that he has a sexual attraction towards children.”
She submitted that McKop didn’t deserve any credit for previous good character due to the serious nature of what he’d done.
But his counsel, Richard Barnsdale, disagreed, submitting his client was still coming to grips with his offending.
“I would submit he is only, at this stage, beginning the process of treatment for his problem.
“His comments are a starting point . . . he apologises in his own way. It may be if the court expected an abject apology, that will follow after he has been in therapy.
“He’s got a lot to work through in that area and he knows that.”
Judge Cocurullo told the victim’s mother she had shown great courage in reading out her victim impact statement in court.
He told McKop that his offending had a huge effect on the victim and said sending him to jail warned others that similar offending would result in a prison sentence.
McKop was sentenced on seven charges including five of doing an indecent act with a girl under 16, having communication with a girl under 16 with intent to meet her, and entering into a contract with a person under 16 to provide sexual services to him.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, he was ordered to pay $3500 in emotional harm reparation to the victim.
