Sickening truth behind Joffa the AFL superfan: Collingwood’s cheer squad chief admits sexually abusing a teenage boy – as his brave victim prepares to speak out
- Superfan Jeffrey ‘Joffa’ Corfe pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 14-year-old boy
- The 62-year-old appeared via video link at the County Court in Melbourne
- The former Collingwood cheer squad leader will appear in person for his plea
Collingwood AFL superfan and former cheer squad leader Jeffrey ‘Joffa’ Corfe has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenage boy.
The 62-year-old was charged with one count of sexual penetration of a child under 16, related to the abuse of a 14-year-old at his then-home in Coburg in Melbourne‘s north, in 2005.
He formally pleaded guilty to the rolled up charge during an arraignment hearing at the County Court in Melbourne.
Jeff Corte, 62, was charged with one count of sexual penetration of a child under 16, related to the abuse of a 14-year-old at his then-home in Coburg in Melbourne’s north, in 2005
Corfe appeared via video link and coughed throughout Wednesday’s brief hearing.
Judge Gerard Mullaly extended his bail to February but advised him he would need to appear in person for his plea.
The Collingwood icon had previously denied the allegations when charged in May 2021 but entered a guilty plea after a series of hearings last week.
Corfe also applied for a sentencing indication if he was to admit the single charge, the Herald Sun reported.
The court heard Corfe was 44 at the time of the offending and communicated with the teen via email and MSN messenger.
He allegedly used an alias, claiming he was 30-years-old, and invited the young boy to his home to have oral sex.
‘Do you still like getting head and what do you look like, champ?’ Corfe allegedly wrote in one message to the boy.
The teen went to Corfe’s home after the Collingwood superfan sent him his address.
The young boy was ‘significantly traumatised’ by the assault, the court heard as reported by the Herald Sun.
Corfe’s lawyer Christopher Terry requested a ‘merciful’ sentence be given to his client arguing the superfan suffers from poor health, a ‘dislocated’ upbringing and has contributed greatly to society.
‘Joffa’ looks on during a Collingwood training session in 2018
Judge Gerard Mullaly accepted a submission from his lawyer Christopher Terry that a wholly suspended jail term would be an appropriate sentence for his crime.
The complainant will be appearing in person and he wanted to read his victim impact statement directly to Corfe, prosecutor Matt Cookson told the court on Wednesday.
Corfe’s lawyer Christopher Terry told the court his client was experiencing health issues but would attend the Melbourne court if required.
Corfe will have to fly to Melbourne in February for a pre-sentencing hearing, where his victim will be given the opportunity to read out a statement describing the impact the crime has had on his life.
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