Jail 'hard' for red-haired sex offender

A Christian youth group leader who sexually assaulted two teenage sisters is in danger of being bullied in jail because of his red hair, his barrister says.

Michael James Townsend, 25, pleaded guilty to molesting the sisters when they were 13 and 15 years old between April and July 2013 in Sydney's northern suburbs.

His barrister Anne Healey said she is concerned for his safety if he is incarcerated as he was ostracised while growing up because of his hair colour.

"He is still a redhead," Ms Healey told Sydney's District Court on Friday. "He will do this (prison time) hard."

In addition to Townsend's own well being, she also pointed out the medical conditions of his parents who he helps take care of, saying his mother has cancer while his father has cirrhosis.

Townsend had made great strides in rehabilitating himself, she said, adding that his "boy brain" was partly to blame for the offences.

"He did not set out to exploit. He just didn't say no," Ms Healey said.

"His hormones and boy brain had taken over."

Townsend has pleaded guilty to a raft of offences, including eight counts of sexual intercourse with a minor, two counts of procurement and two counts of indecent assault.

He met the older sister at a party six months before the offences began, where they exchanged phone numbers to talk about a Christian youth group.

Their relationship began as friendly, but progressed to Townsend encouraging her to send lewd photographs of herself and having her stay over at his house.

The older sister later passed along her younger sibling's number so they could also talk about the youth group, where a similar relationship soon arose.

"To prey on an innocent 13-year-old girl makes me feel sick," she said during her victim impact statement on Thursday.

"She blames herself but it is not her fault, I blame myself. It never would have happened if I never introduced her to Michael."

Townsend will return for sentencing at a later date.