A teenager who had consensual sex with his now fiancée while she was underage has avoided a conviction and kept his name off the child sex offenders register.
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The then 17-year-old, who cannot be named, began a "very real and genuine" relationship with a 13-year-old in 2010.
He moved in with her parents, and they began having consensual sex between 2010 and 2011.
The court heard the boy was a virgin, was vulnerable, and that the sex was initiated by his partner.
The girl fell pregnant, and authorities were alerted to the case when she turned up at the hospital.
The boyfriend was questioned, and made full and frank admissions about the consensual sex to police.
He was arrested and charged, sparking a court process that has been hanging over his head for two years.
The couple's relationship continued, despite stringent bail conditions that kept them apart, and they are now engaged to be married.
The case came before Justice John Burns for sentencing on Friday morning.
The teenager's barrister, Jack Pappas, argued the court should not convict the teenager of the offence.
The court heard that a conviction would result in the boyfriend being placed on the child sex offenders register.
Mr Pappas said that would threaten the teenagers future prospects for rehabilitation, particularly by preventing him from gaining employment.
He quoted Shakespeare in describing the couple as "star-crossed lovers", and said it was rare to see a young relationship blossom so strongly and last so long.
"Certainly not in the case of Romeo and Juliet," Justice Burns joked.
Mr Pappas cited a recent case - involving consensual sex between two young Canberrans - in which the offender avoided a conviction.
The Crown prosecutor said she could not argue against the fact the pair were in a loving and real relationship.
She said all victims, even if willing participants, deserved the protection of the law.
But she agreed the court should consider a non-conviction order.
Justice Burns said he accepted the case was "unusual".
"The Crown accepts, and I accept that the offending reflects a genuine affection between the complainant and yourself," he said.
He said it had not been "exploitative or predatory in any sense", and noted the loving relationship was continuing with the support of both families.
The court heard the teenager had "excellent" prospects for rehabilitation.
Justice Burns said that placing him on the sex offenders register would impact on that rehabilitation, which he said should be taken into account in sentencing.
The judge made a non-conviction order, placing the offender on an 18 month good behaviour order.
But justice Burns told the teenager the offence was not trivial, and warned him the outcome could change if he breached the order.
