Footie manager jailed for 10 months for sex with underage player

MELBOURNE - A football team manager has been jailed for 10 months after she was discovered to be having sex with an underage player.

Kimberley Gale, 24, who was a team manager of a northern suburbs under-16s football team, was caught when she sent her victim a text message that was read by his mother.

In the message she said: “I really miss talking to you.” The victim’s mother, pretending to be her son, replied: “Really?”

Gale replied: “Yeah, really, really badly. I knew I was in love with you but I didn’t realise how much I missed you.”

The County Court was told Gale had befriended the 14-year-old boy’s mother, and offered to take him to school on her way to work.

Judge Sue Pullen said that on two occasions, between March and June this year, Gale, instead of taking the boy to school, took him back to her house where they kissed and had sex.

Judge Pullen said that on other occasions Gale had placed her hand on the boy’s thigh and told him he was “hot”.

“A clear message needs to be sent to the community that when it comes to sex, children are off limits,” the Age quoted prosecutor Susan Borg as telling Judge Pullen.

Gale has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16, and she will now be a registered sex offender for life.

Judge Pullen agreed with the prosecution that a partially suspended sentence was appropriate in Gale’s case, and she was sentenced to two years and two months, and to immediately serve 10 months.

The remaining 16 months will be suspended for two and a half years. (ANI)