Dennis Malcolm Rayner remanded in custody for a series of child sexual abuse offences

The offending of a fitness guru, who tried to groom a child who was actually an undercover cop, has been described as “vile and disturbing”.

The conduct of a man who pleaded guilty to a series of child sexual abuse offences was “vile and disturbing”, a court has heard.

Dennis Malcolm Rayner, 53, appeared in the District Court on Thursday, for sentencing submissions following a guilty plea earlier this month.

Craig Caldicott, defending for Rayner, asked Judge Paul Muscat to be “as lenient as (he) possibly can” when sentencing his client.

Judge Muscat referred to the offending as “vile and disturbing” saying it is “not a victimless crime”.

Mr Caldicott said Rayner, of Gawler, understands the seriousness of his offending and has had relationship issues and lost his job at Yamaha after the offending.

Just hours before he was arrested in November Rayner, of Gawler, was working out, posting a gym workout to his well-used online fitness profile. Picture: Facebook

Rayner pleaded guilty to multiple charges of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity and one of knowingly possessing child exploitation material in July.

Court documents show Rayner communicated to make a child amenable to sexual activity twice on May 24, last year again on May 25, and a fourth time on July 19.

He was also caught in the possession of child exploitation material on November 23, when he was arrested, according to the documents.

During Rayner’s bail application in November, a police prosecutor told the court Rayner had been arrested after “interacting” with a “covert police officer”.

The arrest came after an investigation by detectives from the SA Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team, known as JACET.

JACET is a partnership between SA Police and the Australian Federal Police.

Rayner’s bail was revoked and he was remanded in custody until July 31 for sentencing.