Former Big Bash League cricketer Aaron William Summers has pleaded guilty to two counts of penetrative sexual abuse of a child and grooming with the intent of exposing a child to indecent material. The offenses occurred on January 16, 2018, in Hobart, when Summers was on the roster for the Hobart Hurricanes.
Summers met the 15-year-old victim after messaging her on social media. He picked her up near her home and drove to a local school, where the abuse took place. At the time of the offending, Summers was described as one of the fastest bowlers in the world and was being identified for international play. He played one game for the Hobart Hurricanes in late 2017 and three one-day games for Tasmania after his debut in 2018. He also played overseas on short contracts.
Summers was arrested and extradited from the Northern Territory to Tasmania in 2025. This followed a period of incarceration for separate child sex offenses, to which he pleaded guilty in 2021 in the Northern Territory, including charges related to possessing and transmitting child abuse material.
During a hearing in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Summers' lawyer, Caroline Graves, stated that the offending occurred during a difficult period for her client, characterized by social isolation and heavy social media use. Graves indicated that Summers has since developed insight into his crimes and presents a low risk of reoffending, suggesting that a wholly suspended sentence should be considered. However, Justice Helen Wood indicated that a suspended sentence was not an option.
Summers, who had been on bail, was remanded in custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August. His lawyer added that Summers understands he will not be able to continue his professional cricket career in Australia or overseas.