SE man on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting adopted daughter

A South East father’s alleged sexual assaults on his adopted daughter left the victim “too shocked” to react, a court has heard.

A South East man is facing trial for allegedly sexually assaulting his adopted daughter, with the attack occurring while watching a movie, a court has heard.

The man has not been identified to protect the identity of his alleged victim.

In his opening statement public prosecutor Daniel McCabe told the Mount Gambier District Court the accused “put his hand under her shirt and touched her chest”, while they were watching the movie Birds of Prey.

The court heard the alleged victim was left “too shocked” to react.

According to court documents, the alleged offending took place in 2020 when the victim was 13-years-old at the time.

A South East father is on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting his adopted daughter. Picture: File

The man has only been charged with one count of aggravated indecent assault, however Mr McCabe told the court the girl recalls several similar incidents during other movies.

The court heard the alleged victim did not initially wish to watch the movie but sat down after her father “insisted”.

The alleged victim told police officers the first time her adoptive father inappropriately touched her was in 2019.

The accused was sleeping in the same bed as the alleged victim and her little brother and during the night the alleged victim told police her adoptive father “held her chest”, a court has heard.

The court heard the alleged victim lives with diabetes and her father would “regularly come into her room during the night and prick her finger to measure her blood glucose levels”.

“Two days prior to the first interview with police (the alleged victim) says she was still awake when her father came into the room,” Mr McCabe said.

“She pretended to be asleep — she says he unzipped her top — she had nothing on underneath.”

Mr McCabe told the court the alleged victim told a friend from school her “father was touching her chest”.

“Later that morning (the alleged victim) decided to do something more — she decided to tell her teacher,” he said.

The alleged victim’s friend and teacher are expected to give evidence, which Mr McCabe said shed’s further light on the allegations.

The jury trial continues.