Randoms found in house of SA accused child abuser with poo fetish after arrest

A computer and two iPhones found with pictures and videos central to a case against an alleged child abuser looms as a key factor in the final verdict, a court has heard.

Two men with USBs were found at a house where a bag of faeces and devices containing child exploitation material were discovered shortly after a man was arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse.

The information arose during cross-examination of an investigating officer providing evidence in the trial of Mark Vernon Anderson.

Earlier, an interview with one of Mr Anderson’s alleged 13-year-old victims conducted by police showed the boy saying he wanted to “bash” Mr Anderson and that he hoped he “died in jail”.

That was not before, however, he said Mr Anderson had never given him drugs and that he had never hurt him.

The secondary interview was in contrast to another the boy gave to police in which he said Mr Anderson had given him meth and offered to buy his underwear off him for drugs.

The Carrington Street apartment block in which Mr Anderson allegedly perpetrated the acts. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

Mr Anderson has pleaded not guilty to charges of supplying controlled drugs to children, maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child, indecent assault, asking two boys to commit an indecent act and possessing child exploitation material.

The court previously heard how between 20 and 30 people would visit Mr Anderson’s house every year, a place he described to police as a place where rough sleepers can stop by for a meal, a bed or a clean shirt.

His trial continued on Friday in the Adelaide District Court which heard there was a period of time between Mr Anderson’s arrest and the seizure of property at his house.

The court heard by the time police returned to the CBD apartment, which was to get Mr Anderson’s medication, two random men had taken lodging there, and were found to be in possession of USBs.

The court heard no photos were taken of the house, and no description of its state – which the court previously heard was shambolic – was taken between Mr Anderson’s arrest and when police re-attended the apartment.

With both the prosecution’s and defence’s cases finalised, the use of a laptop and two iPhones found with alleged child exploitation material looms as critical to Judge Emily Telfer’s verdict.

Earlier in the week Judge Telfer was told both the 13-year-old and a second alleged victim, aged 14, were living in state care at the time of the allegations.

The 14-year-old’s mother, during cross-examination by Angus Redford, for Mr Anderson, said she had offered her son to Mr Anderson for drugs in a ruse to get him to admit to being a paedophile.

During the trial the court has heard the boy’s, Mr Anderson’s neighbours, and their associates considered him to be a “creep”, “paedophile” and “junkie”.

In a recorded interview of Mr Anderson upon his arrest in 2020, he said he had been a sex-worker for 19-years and was counselling the 14-year-old boy about his sexuality.

The trial before Judge Emily Telfer continues.