Australian cricketer Aaron Summers faces jail after pleading guilty to child sexual abuse charges

Aaron Summers. (Photo credit: X/@cricketcomau) Former Australian cricketer Aaron Summers faces a possible prison sentence after pleading guilty to child sexual abuse offenses related to an incident in Tasmania in 2018.The 30-year-old, who previously represented the Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmania in domestic cricket, changed his plea in late June to two counts of violent sexual abuse of a child and one count of grooming with intent to expose a child to indecent material.According to court proceedings, the offenses occurred while Summers was part of the Hobart Hurricanes squad. The Supreme Court of Tasmania heard Summers had contacted the victim via social media before the incident took place. During the hearing, Summers’ lawyer, Caroline Graves, argued that the offenses occurred during a particularly difficult time in his life, when he was socially isolated and spent considerable time on social media. She told the court that Summers had since reflected on his actions and was a low risk of re-offending.“These crimes will never leave his mind, but he needs to move on with his life,” Graves said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.She also pointed out that Summers was considered one of the fastest bowlers in the world at the time and was considered a potential international player. “He was one of the fastest bowlers in the world at the time of the offense and that’s why he was identified to play internationally,” she said, adding: “He knows he will never progress to professional cricket in Australia or overseas.”Summers previously served a prison sentence in the Northern Territory after pleading guilty in 2021 to separate child abuse offences, including possession and transfer of child abuse material. His lawyer asked for a suspended sentence to be considered, but Judge Helen Wood indicated that was not possible. Summers, who was out on bail, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in August.