mmg.com.au

A Shepparton man who ran a teenage prostitution ring using vulnerable girls has been sentenced to three years in jail, but will be eligible for parole in 10 months.

Emran Dad, 22, pleaded guilty last month in Shepparton County Court to two counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16, committing an indecent act with a child under 16, and causing or encouraging a child to participate in sex work.

Girls aged 14, 15 and 17 told police they were part of a prostitution network.

Dad bought cigarettes for a girl, then 13, in exchange for sex in October 2009 after they met at a shop when the girl asked Mr Dad to buy her cigarettes.

Dad phoned the girl or used Facebook to make contact with her.

She was paid from $50 to $200, depending on the sex acts she performed.

Last year Dad took the then-15-year-old girl shopping in exchange for sex.

Dad told police: ‘‘I didn’t have any other girls at the time to have sex with.’’

The girl met at least 12 men — including some who had families — and Dad was paid $150 for organising each meeting.

In a victim impact statement the girl said she drank alcohol before each meeting to help her deal with it.

‘‘It felt like crap, but it was just business,’’ she said.

Dad’s defence counsel said three incidents in his childhood had given his client an acquired brain injury and subsequent intellectual disability.

Dad has been in custody since May and will be eligible to apply for parole early next month.