Grandfather Neville John Grey, 56, of Veal Road, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool County Court earlier this month to two counts of committing an indecent act with a girl aged under 16 years and one charge of stalking.

Judge Graeme Hicks yesterday said Grey took advantage of the vulnerable girl by inappropriately touching her and that warranted a suspended term of imprisonment.

Grey was convicted and received a six-month jail sentence which was suspended for two years.

He was also placed on a two-year community corrections order which includes conditions he undertake a sex offender’s program, not attend race meetings and he has to complete 100 hours of community work.

Grey was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for 15 years.

Judge Hicks said Grey had pleaded guilty which short-circuited a 10-day trial, he had substantial family and community support and had never before been in trouble.

He said Grey had admitted to his offending in front of his wife, children, work colleagues and friends.

Judge Hicks said even the crown prosecutor agreed the offending was at the lower end of the scale and could have been heard in the magistrates court.

He accepted Grey was a caring and loving grandparent who assisted his wheelchair bound 80-year-old mother and the defendant also suffered anxiety and depression.

The judge said Grey’s prospects of rehabilitation were good and he had been classed in the moderate to low risk category for reoffending.

However, he said the victim impact statements from the victim and her family were stark testimony and indicated the offending had a tremendously detrimental impact on the girl and her broader family.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Barnett said previously Grey and the victim were involved in racing and that between mid-December 2010 and mid-January 2011 the defendant touched the girl’s genitals and breasts over her clothes in two separate incidents.

In March last year, Grey attended a sporting function where the girl was playing and later went to her home several times. He also called her mobile telephone nine times.

The incidents were reported to police on March 14 last year and Grey was arrested the following day.

During an interview with police Grey made some admissions but denied touching the girl.