Investigation into second girl in SA state care abused after taxpayer-funded NDIS trips

The NDIS Commission will investigate a court case that revealed a support worker drove a young male client to pick up a girl who proceeded to have unlawful sex over three days.

The NDIS Commission will investigate after a court case revealed a support worker drove a young male client to a park to pick up a girl, 13, under state care, with whom the client then had unlawful sex over three days.

Jayden Ramone McKenna, 22, has received a suspended sentenced in the District Court for two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under 14 years.

It is the second case to come to light within weeks of NDIS-funded support workers transporting young male clients to meet with underage girls who are then abused.

Jayden McKenna had unlawful sex with a girl in state care. Picture: Facebook

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by McKenna’s support worker or the support agency’s executive director and it is not suggested that this case is linked with the earlier case.

McKenna and the girl, who has an intellectual disability, met on Snapchat in 2022.

In sentencing, Judge Liesl Kudelka said McKenna was driven by a support worker, funded through the NDIS, on April 30 that year to pick up the girl from a park.

The support worker asked what the pair would be doing that evening.

“He did not question you about the age of the victim or the appropriateness of her staying at your place that afternoon, nor did he question the victim,” Judge Kudelka said.

“On Monday, May 2, 2022, the executive director of the support agency arrived at your place instead of the usual support worker.

“He saw that the victim was in your bed.

“He believed the victim looked to be about 12 to 15 years old, but only saw her face, as she had the covers pulled up to her neck.”

A spokesman for the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission said the matter was being investigated despite the support worker not being hired directly through the NDIS.

“Noting the findings by the court, the NDIS Commission is considering whether the actions of the support worker or the service provider constitute any breaches of the Code (of Conduct) or other obligations,” he said.

Hayden Wade Richman has pleaded guilty to having unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under 17. Picture: Facebook

Judge Kudelka said the victim had a “traumatic upbringing” thought she could trust McKenna.

“She says she thought you had her back and that you would protect her,” the judge said.

“She says it is hard enough being a kid in care, and having people lie to her and let her down for years.”

Last month, in a separate case, The Advertiser revealed a man with autism used a government support worker to help him pick up an underage girl in state care, before having sex with her in a hotel room funded by his NDIS support package.

The court heard that the support worker did not know that the man was picking the girl up for sex.

Hayden Wade Richman, 20, told the District Court he spent three hours with the 15-year-old girl in February last year after she was dropped off at the Mawson Lakes Hotel during a retreat that was funded by the NDIS.

Richman has previously pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse.

But he denies that he knew the girl was underage.

His counsel has argued he is a good candidate for a suspended sentence and no recorded conviction due to his autism.

In McKenna’s case, Judge Kudelka said he had a traumatic childhood, was autistic and had “deficits in many areas of cognitive function”

McKenna was sentenced to two years, nine months and 28 days with a non-parole period of one year and four months imprisonment.

The sentence was suspended on the condition he enter a good behaviour bond of two years.