Friday afternoon's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Nightclub owner’s son sentenced to jail for brutal rape of teenage girl.

Trigger warning: This post features explicit details of rape that could be distressing for some readers.

Luke Lazarus, the son of Sydney nightclub owner Andrew Lazarus, has been sentenced to at least three years jail for sexually assaulting a girl in an alley behind his father’s Kings Cross night spot.

Lazarus, 23, was charged with raping an 18-year-old woman in May 2013, after luring her into the alley on the promise of taking her to a VIP room at the SOHO nightclub.

He received a five-year jail sentence, with a minimum of three years without parole.

After she expressed a desire to go back inside, Mr Lazarus told her to “put your f***ing hands on the wall, get on the ground and arch your back”.

He proceeded to anally rape her.

The victim told the court yesterday that she has not recovered from the incident.

“I never knew what it was like to feel so helpless,” she said.

“I’ll never be who I was … A part of me died that day, the part that trusted others, the part that saw the good in everyone.”

Judge Sarah Huggett in the Downing Centre District Court also referred Mr Lazarus to see health professionals while serving his sentence.

If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.

2. Top secret Prince Charles letters to be published.

The British supreme court has permitted the publication of secret letters written by Prince Charles to government ministers.

The 27 letters were obtained after a 10-year legal battle with The Guardian, and allegedly contain correspondence between The Prince of Wales and several cabinet minister between 2004 and 2005.

The letters — known as the Black Spider memos — were previously suppressed as they contained the potential to undermine Prince Charles’ “position of political neutrality”, but were today cleared for publication under Freedom of Information laws.

The British royal family are expected to remain non-political. Republic groups say the release of the letters could lead to a rise in support for dismantling the monarchy.

According to The Guardian, the prime minister’s office said it would have to do “preparatory work” before releasing the letters, and appeared not to rule out making redactions.

3. Man charged with killing baby in Queensland.

A 29-year-old Townsville man has been charged with the murder of an 18-month-old baby.

The little boy died following an incident in Moranbah on Wednesday, which left him in a critical condition.

He was hospitalised with severe head injuries, but died yesterday.

The man was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm, which has now been upgraded to murder.

He appeared in court today, where his trial was adjourned until June.

4. Dance teacher detained on child pornography charges will remain in prison until September trial.

By ABC.

A Sydney dance teacher charged with more than 60 child pornography and sex offences will remain in custody until his trial in September.

The founder of the now defunct RG Dance studio, Grant Davies, is charged with 64 offences against students aged between nine and 14.

Police say some of the offences were committed more than a decade ago.

In Downing Centre District Court on Friday a trial date was set for September.

The court heard there were 10 complainants and the trial would run for up to three months.

The court was told Davies was downstairs in the cells but chose not to appear and would remain in custody until the trial.

Davies’ sister Rebecca closed the dance studio a week after her brother was arrested.

He was arrested in May 2013 after his wife contacted police.

Davies previously waived his right to a committal hearing.

This article was originally published by the ABC and has been republished here with full permission.

5. RSPCA vet nurse pleads guilty to neglecting her pets.

By ABC.

A former Canberra RSPCA vet nurse sobbed as she was ordered to surrender her pets after being convicted of failing to provide them with water, food and suitable shelter.

Claire Widdicombe’s two dogs and a cat were seized by RSPCA officers in July last year.

The 25-year-old was sentenced to 64 hours of community service and a one-year good behaviour order, and banned from acquiring any new pets for two years.

She pleaded guilty to five charges.

Inspectors found one of the dogs, a Pomeranian known as Mr Pom, in what appeared to be a bird cage, with no water and faeces in a container and on the floor.

The woman’s lawyer told the court she only put him there when she fed him to avoid conflict with the other dog, and then let him out, but had failed to do so that day.

Two cats were also found in a cage together, with no water and faeces overflowing from two containers and all over the ground.

One cat, a White Persian known as Kimba, was seriously underweight and was taken away, although the other cat was in good condition and remains in Widdicombe’s care.

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A cattle dog found with no available water was also seized.

Widdicombe’s lawyer told the court it was a momentary aberration from a woman who was going through a difficult time in her life.

The court was told Widdicombe had been forced to return to work as a nurse at the RSPCA early from maternity leave and had been overwhelmed as she struggled with being a single mother.

But Prosecutor Amanda Clarke told the court everyone has difficulties in life, and Widdicombe is no ordinary member of the public when it comes to the care of animals.

“She knows the cost more than other members of the community,” Ms Clarke said.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker told the court she accepted that Widdicombe was remorseful, but as a vet nurse with seven years’ experience she knew better than others the importance of caring for animals.

“The lack of attention to their needs is a serious matter,” she said.

“It makes it difficult to comprehend how you allowed this situation to arise.”

A reparations application for nearly $25,000 for the treatment and care of the animals is yet to be resolved.

This article was originally published on the ABC and has been republished here with full permission.

6. Missing teen Michelle Keating has been found.

Missing Melbourne teengaer Michelle Keating has been found.

Michelle was reported missing after failing to return home from school on Tuesday.

She was found alive and well at Southern Cross station around 2.30 on Thursday afternoon.

7. Brisbane child model battles rare cancer.

Venessa Harris hoped her life would change after she won a major modelling competition in Brisbane but she and her family could never have predicted the terrible twist in store for them.

In September last year, 12-year-old Venessa from Windorah in outback Queensland was on top of the world.

She had just won a hotly contested competition run by Brisbane-based agency Tamblyn Models, scoring herself a three-year modelling contract and a trip to Paris. The future looked bright.

But on January 5 Venessa was told she had Ewing’s sarcoma – a primary bone cancer that mainly affects children and teenagers.

“My first feelings were, this is unbelievable and the fear of the unknown,” Venessa told ABC Western Queensland.

Venessa’s mother, Karen Monaghan, said the news about her daughter was so unbearable that it made her physically ill for a month.

“I’d heard of people being physically ill from stress and nerves and I’ve always been one of those people who’s gone ‘oh yeah, right’,” Ms Monaghan said.

“[But] for two weeks, maybe a month, anytime I’d have a conversation about Venessa or even think about her, anytime of the day or night I was throwing up.

“I threw up for a month straight, I’ve never been so sick in my life.”

After the initial diagnosis Venessa and her family relocated to Brisbane so she could receive treatment at Lady Cilento Hospital.

They stayed at Ronald McDonald House for several days before Ms Monaghan contacted Tamblyn Models to tell them the news.

She said she was stunned to learn that the charity Childhood Cancer Support was the major beneficiary of fundraising from Tambyln Models.

Related content: Meet the first woman to become a male model.

Childhood Cancer Support now provides accommodation for Venessa and her family while they are in Brisbane for her treatment.

“We knew we were raising money for a good cause [through the modelling competition] but we had no idea it was Childhood Cancer Support,” Ms Monaghan said.

“This is where we’ve ended up coming to live and it’s just a home away from home now, they support us with all kinds of things.”

Through their accommodation and hospital treatment, Ms Monaghan said the family had established a strong support network in Brisbane.

“You get there and you meet other people like yourself and we have another little family now that is just cancer orientated.

“That’s our other support group now, and we’re all the same at Childhood Cancer Support where we stay. They provide accommodation for people who don’t live in Brisbane so we can’t cry and whinge about not being home because everyone’s exactly the same, we all miss home.”

Ms Monaghan said seeing other young cancer patients recovering has been a big inspiration.

Venessa’s cancer was discovered in her hip and she is currently using a wheelchair for mobility.

She is optimistic that things will look brighter by the end of the year.

“I guess what I’m looking forward to at the end of the year is my hair getting regrown, maybe it might come back early,” Venessa said.

“I’m also looking forward to talking, walking, and going home and seeing my little brother Tom, seeing all my friends and my dog.

“We try not to plan things too far ahead, I feel real good like [I have] lots of family and support.”

This article was originally published by the ABC and has been republished here with full permission.

What’s making news for you today? Let us know in the comment section below.