Luke Edward Reynolds, a 29-year-old former boat skipper, has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to the attempted sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old boy. The Brisbane District Court heard that Reynolds communicated with the boy through online chat platforms, including Snapchat, where they engaged in sexually explicit discussions starting in April 2024.
In a disturbing turn of events, Reynolds attempted to lure the boy into sexual activity by offering a PlayStation as a trade. He sent graphic images, including photos of his own erect penis and animated content depicting sexual acts, while also suggesting a meeting to engage in sexual acts and discussing the possibility of involving other males.
Reynolds was so brazen that he brought a cooler bag containing sexual paraphernalia to the scheduled meeting outside the YMCA in Cannon Hill, Brisbane. However, the boy felt apprehensive and left the meeting on his bike. Upon returning home, he informed his parents, who discovered explicit messages on his phone and subsequently contacted the police.
Despite the boy’s reluctance, Reynolds continued to communicate, attempting to arrange another meeting while unaware that he was messaging an undercover police officer. After four days, he made plans to meet the officer at the same location, where law enforcement apprehended him while he still possessed the cooler bag filled with the previously mentioned items. Investigators also found images of naked children on his phone.
During police questioning, Reynolds admitted to being aware of the boy’s age, even suspecting he might be younger than 13, and confirmed his intention to engage in sexual activities. Crown prosecutor Isabelle MacNicol described Reynolds’ behaviour as persistent, predatory, and premeditated.
In his defence, lawyer Patrick Wilson described Reynolds as remorseful and claimed he was a socially isolated individual who had never experienced romantic relationships. However, the court dismissed this notion, as Judge Brad Farr labelled his actions as “demonstrably serious” and “vile.” The judge highlighted that Reynolds showed a blatant disregard for the boy’s safety by persistently soliciting sexual contact, even after the child expressed fear about the situation.
Ultimately, Reynolds was sentenced to serve six months in prison, followed by probation, while the judge noted the significant psychological harm his actions could have inflicted on the vulnerable victim. Resources for support, such as 1800 RESPECT and Kids Helpline, were provided for those in need of assistance.