Mount Gambier man accused of performing vile acts on granddaughter

A 72-year-old Mount Gambier man accused of sexually assaulting his four-year-old granddaughter was caught on covert cameras asking his alleged victim “why did you tell?”, a court has heard.

A Mount Gambier man accused of sexually assaulting his four-year-old granddaughter regularly played a bizarre “cat game” with the girl, a court has heard.

The 72-year-old grandfather, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of his alleged victim, was secretly recorded by the girl’s parents when the allegations first came to light.

The man’s defence lawyer Jane Powell gave her closing arguments in the Mount Gambier District Court this week.

Ms Powell said the prosecution's argument the man had sexually assaulted the child was unlikely given the “ever present risk of detection”.

Prosecutor Keryn Park told the Mount Gambier District Court the allegations first came to light during a conversation with the young girl and her mother.

The girl’s mother discreetly began recording the conversation on her mobile phone.

Ms Park said the audio showed the alleged victim was able to describe how she was allegedly assaulted.

Ms Powell said the recorded conversation made no reference to where the assault occurred and the grandfather might have been making reference to a “cat game” the pair played.

The cat game involved the pair licking each other on the arms, the court heard.

The man has been charged with maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 14.

According to court documents, the alleged offending is said to have occurred between January 2019 and February 2020.

After hearing her account, the girl’s parents purchased a number of motion activated covert cameras — setting them up in the ensuite bathroom.

When the defendant came to the house to babysit the alleged victim, two days later, they instructed him to only use the ensuite bathroom, as the other had been just cleaned with bleach.

Covert cameras captured a conversation between the accused and the alleged victim in the ensuite bathroom.

Judge Geraldine Davison said it was important to bear in mind the context of the recording.

“His response is recorded. ‘Why did you tell her that? I’ve told you not to tell them that?,” Judge Davison said.

The man will next front court in August when Judge Davison will deliver her verdict.