Richard Squires abused a teen boy in state care, the latest in a spate of abuse of vulnerable children

A teenage boy meant to be kept safe in state care was lured from his home by a man he met on a dating app and abused – the latest in a series of cases.

A teenage boy in state care was lured from his home and the supervision of the state by a man he met on a dating app and abused, a court has heard.

Richard Ian Squires, 39, will be sentenced next week after he connected with a 16-year-old child in care on Grindr, a dating app for men, then abused him.

Squires becomes the latest in a series of men to come before the courts having abused vulnerable children in state care.

In September last year Matthew James McIntyre was jailed for two years for abusing and impregnating a 13-year-old girl he lured from state care.

Questions still remain how he met and groomed the young girl.

Only months later Philip Edwin McIntosh was jailed for six years, three months and 18 days for abusing a teenage girl, who was pregnant to another man.

Despite being told by police following his arrest not to contact his victim, McIntosh begun texting her again days after he was granted bail.

Opposition child protection spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard called for Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson to explain how the abuse could happen.

“With a growing number of horrific cases of children in care being abused under her watch, the Minister must also explain what she has put in place to protect children in care,” she said.

“If Minister Sanderson is going to take children into care, she must keep them safe. Tragically, this is yet another example of her failing to do so.”

The Advertiser put questions about the incident to Ms Sanderson.

A government spokeswoman responded, saying the Minister was aware of the latest case but she would not confirm when she found out about it. She also said the Minister would not comment further because the matter was before the courts.

“This young person’s wellbeing is paramount and they are being fully supported,” she said.

The spokeswoman provided a list of initiatives the government had implemented since coming to power to support children in state care, including funding a lead psychiatric director to work with the most complex children; delivering a prevention and early intervention sexual safety program; and paying for a pilot program targeting vulnerable young girls at risk or who are pregnant.

The Advertiser asked the department if it would investigate how the latest incident occurred to determine if improvements could be made to keep children safe.

“The department... regularly reviews its policies and practice guides, including those which cover cyber safety, to keep children and young people safe,” a spokeswoman said.

CPD deputy chief executive Fiona Ward said the department worked closely with police, the Education Department and SA Health to prevent abuse.

“We also work hard to provide the best possible support to children and young people who have experienced significant trauma and regularly review safety measures to help protect them from online predators,” she said.

On Tuesday the District Court heard the child abused by Squires felt nothing but “pure hatred” for the man who abused him.

A prosecutor said the offending was premeditated.

“At time of the offending the accused was an adult in his late 30s with considerable life experience,” the prosecutor said.

“The complainant, on the other hand, was 16 years old and he was particularly vulnerable being under the guardianship of the Minister and with a history of mental health issues.”

Richard Squires will be sentenced next week for two counts of unlawful sex with a child. Picture: AFP

A victim impact statement was read to the court.

“I’m afraid that people will lie to me and use me like Richard did”, the victim said.

Squires, of Magill, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.

He has been in custody since May.

Martin Kirby, for Squires, told the court Squires was remorseful for his actions.

“It is conceded that this is very serious and he understands he’ll likely serve a lengthy prison term,” Mr Kirby said.

Judge Adam Kimber will sentence Squires next week.