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Web threat to rape girl, 11

Damon Guppy

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

© The Cairns Post

 

AN 11-year-old Cairns schoolgirl was told she would be raped at school during a shocking chat room conversation with another student.

Her mother told The Cairns Post she had reported the threat to the primary school's teacher and police because she was worried for her daughter’s safety.

"She's only 11," the mother, who asked not to be named to protect her daughter, said.

"She shouldn't have that sort of worry."

In a transcript of the MSN Messenger conversation, the boy, also 11, told the girl he wanted to "make love" to her and asked if she wanted to come over.

She refused but he made some obscene comments before saying: "u wana push it in bed dont u".

When she got angry, the boy said: "see u at school cause im gonna rape u".

He repeated the threat before they signed off.

The threat comes after The Cairns Post revealed bullying cases in Far Northern schools including the video-recorded bashing of a Malanda teen and the constant harassment and taunting of a Gordonvale boy.

Lifeline family support workers had also warned that cyber and text bullying were on the rise in the region.

In the latest case, the girl's mother said she was shocked by the nature of the conversation.

"She told me straight away," the mother said.

"She was really scared.

"She was really quiet when she showed it to me, like she was worried about what my reaction would be.

"The way that he's done it, and the way he's built it up to how he was going to rape her at school, is disturbing."

She did not believe her daughter fully understood the threat.

"She knows what the word rape means but she has no idea what effect it would have if it happened," she said.

The school's principal has spoken to the boy but was powerless to act because the threat was made on a weekend and the children were using their own computers.

"They are looking out for her," the mum said.

Police were informed but could not do anything unless the girl pressed charges.

The mother said her daughter did not want to take further action because she was worried about being bullied at school.

She decided to go public so other parents would check who their children talked to on the internet.

"She could quite easily have been speaking with someone around the corner who's an adult," she said.

For information on chat-room risks, read "Who’s chatting to your kids?’ at www.police.qld.gov.au.

 


<strong>Cyber crime:</strong> While chatting on MSN, this 11-year-old Cairns schoolgirl was told she would be raped at school.

Cyber crime: While chatting on MSN, this 11-year-old Cairns schoolgirl was told she would be raped at school.


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