When a family feared their 13-year-old son was being groomed by an older man, Victoria police agreed to follow the pair.
But officers lost sight of the boy as 31-year-old Mark Clorion led him to his home.
Clorion on Friday pleaded guilty to grooming and sexually abusing the boy that afternoon. They had met on Grindr in late November 2022.
The boy initially claimed he was 21 but within a few short messages he told Clorion he was 14, a year older than he was, Victoria’s county court heard.
Clorion, a registered nurse, still engaged in sexual conversation and pressed to meet the boy on his day off. The boy questioned Clorion to make sure he wasn’t going to kidnap him.
“I don’t want to raise a child,” Clorion replied, before referencing a US serial killer and sex offender. “I’m not Jeffrey Dahmer.”
They agreed to meet on 1 December last year and the boy caught a bus from his rural Victorian hometown into a regional city.
He had confided his plans in a friend, who alerted the boy’s family and police were called.
They were waiting at a bus stop when the boy arrived and they watched him meet Clorion and walk away together. But police subsequently lost sight of the pair, the court heard.
Through the afternoon Clorion abused the boy multiple times. The teenager told the court he was uncomfortable and wanted to leave but felt frozen.
After several hours he left and met up with his sister and they were approached by police.
Clorion’s home was identified and he was arrested that evening. He confessed when questioned by police.
His barrister said Clorion originally thought they would just meet up at first, but he quickly fell into temptation.
after newsletter promotion
The boy said he felt shameful and dirty after leaving Clorion’s home.
He said he felt like he was in a microscope and everyone knew what had happened to him.
His father broke down and left court while reading a statement about his fears for his son’s future – knowing the scars he would endure for the rest of his life.
Clorion, from the Philippines, is likely to be deported after serving a prison sentence. He was supported in court by his aunt and three cousins.
The registered nurse has not worked since the offending.
County court judge James Parrish will hand down his sentence at a later date.
#Victoria #police #lost #sight #boy #sexually #abused #nurse #Victoria
