Aaron Summers received jail term for child grooming offences

Prosecutors said the former Hobart Hurricanes bowler used his position as a cricket professional at Darwen to influence the children

Cricketer Aaron Summers has been jailed in Australia for grooming and possessing child abuse material.

Summers, 25, pleaded guilty to seven charges in November and on Wednesday was sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison. He has been in custody since May and will not be eligible for parole until 2023.

Prosecutors said the former Hobart Hurricanes bowler used his position as a cricket professional at Darwen to groom multiple children.

The court heard Summers used Snapchat and Instagram to share sexually explicit messages with minors aged 16 and younger, while police found more than 80 pictures and videos of child abuse material on his devices.

^{Aaron Summers admitted to seven offences in November}

"These were not offences which were spontaneous, they were calculated and required a significant degree of engagement on the part of the offender to build the trust of these victims," prosecutor Hannah White said in sentencing submissions.

"These types of offences are typically committed by persons like the offender who have no prior criminal history and good character," she said.

Summers will become a "reportable offender" following his release from prison. Justice John Burns said he would have to follow "onerous" reporting procedures once back in society.

Lawyers for Summers asked for the sentence to be partially suspended and for their client to be permitted to live with his parents in Western Australia.