The Children's Court in Canberra has warned parents of the dangers of the internet, after a 12-year-old boy downloaded pornography, showed it to his young cousins and had them re-enact segments.
The boy's actions, involving three girls aged between seven and 10, left his family "torn apart", a magistrate said.
The boy, now aged 14, was charged with multiple counts of indecent assault and one of sexual intercourse with a minor.
Magistrate Karen Fryar labelled it a tragedy of mammoth proportions.
"It is not putting it too dramatically, in my view, to say that as a result of these offences the fabric of the entire extended family has been torn apart," she said.
"As is often the case with offences of this nature, the shockwaves reach much further than those immediately involved."
Magistrate Fryar told the court the actions of the young boy went beyond those of youthful curiosity.
"The offences seem to have been fuelled by the young person's access to pornography over the internet," she said.
"In this technological age, the dangers of such influences on our children are ever present and require parents to be vigilant about what their children are accessing online.
"Somehow that did not seem to happen here."
'The trauma of these events will pass'
In their victim impact statements, the parents of the three girls wrote that they wanted their nephew to face justice.
"I must note that nothing the court does, nor any penalty it imposes, will undo what has already been done," Magistrate Fryar said.
But she said the fact that the boy had pleaded guilty and was making himself accountable for the crimes was a positive sign.
Magistrate Fryar said it was a case that had weighed heavily on her mind.
"That a boy who has barely reached puberty at the time of the offences should now face consequences that may last well into his adulthood is significant," she said.
She recorded a conviction for each charge and sentenced him to a good behaviour order for two years.
"Believe it or not, the trauma of these events will pass, but your children will continue to rely on you for years to come," Magistrate Fryar said to the parents of the victims and the young boy.
"Their best interests must be your primary focus."
