Anthony James Griffin: Years jail for Coolgardie father who raped teenage girl and bragged about it to friend

A Goldfields father who raped a teenage girl then bragged about the pre-meditated attack to a friend in vile texts has been jailed for more than four years. Anthony James Griffin met the 15-year-old through a mutual friend and they started spending time together to pursue a shared outdoor leisure interest. He was almost twice her age, 29, and first offended against her in his Coolgardie home by asking her for a hug then forcefully grabbed her breast, saying he would “f… her” if she was older. Less than a week later in September 2023, he raped the girl twice in his bedroom after plying her with alcohol, ripping her underwear as he took them off. “She told you she didn’t want to do anything,” WA District Court Judge Julie Wager said on Thursday. “You grabbed her by the back of the neck, held her down and said ‘good girl’.” Prosecutors said the assault was pre-planned, as Griffin had texted a friend words “to the effect that he wanted to f... her”. He then wrote: “I did it. So f...ing hot. Love you bro. I did it, I did it”. Griffin took her home at 4am “so her father didn’t realise she was missing”, Judge Wager said. He pressured the girl, telling her that if she revealed what had happened to anyone, he would not be able to see his children and it would “become a sh.. show”. “She was a child ... who was not in a position to wilfully consent,” the judge said to Griffin, now 32, who appeared via videolink from Casuarina Prison. “The offending is serious. You took advantage of a teenage girl for our own sexual gratification.” The girl said she froze as he raped her. Bruises showed up days later. “The sexual contact wasn’t wanted,” Judge Wager said. “The victim’s response was consistent with her not knowing what to do, which is consistent with her age.” In a rare development, Griffin was allowed to address the judge directly, saying he had two children to two different partners, with a fifth child on the way. “I just wanted to say, Your Honour, I acknowledge what’s happened here and understand there are going to be consequences,” he said. “I’m going to do the best I can ... to rehabilitate myself and get back to my children.” Judge Wager sentenced him to four years and four months, with parole eligibility after serving half. With time already served, he could be freed as soon as August next year. “It may well be that you are required to complete programs before you will be looked at for eligibility,” the judge added. She also imposed a violence restraining order banning Griffin from having any contact with the victim for life. Sexual Assault Resource Centre 1800 199 888 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800