Shaking and crying: alleged sexual assault victim relives stepdads alleged abuse

A close friend to an alleged sexual assault victim, who was allegedly abused by her stepdad, has told a jury about the night she heard the shocking allegations.

A woman who was allegedly sexually abused by her stepdad for just under a decade was a complete mess on the night the trauma from her past resurfaced and she spilt all to a close friend, a court has heard.

The complainant, now in her 20s, fled to the friend’s house after going into a state of panic after a man had tried kissing her.

Prosecutor Samuel Adams told the court for the alleged victim, the incident re-triggered the alleged trauma from her past.

A South East woman was allegedly sexually abused by her stepdad for just under a decade. Picture: File

“In 2019 she was at a male friend’s house when he tried to kiss her — she panicked — she remembered the events that occurred (when she was a child),” Mr Adams said.

Taking to the stand in the Mount Gambier District Court and with tears in her eyes, the complainant’s friend described how the alleged victim came through her door like a “whirlwind”.

“She was shaking — crying — she was really, really stressed.” the witness said.

“I asked what was wrong.”

In response the alleged victim said “because he abused me”.

“I asked her what did she mean — I thought she had to be talking about (the man) who she’d spent most of the day with,” the witness said.

Going through her phone, the alleged victim pulled up an old photo of her school soccer team and pointed out her identifying her stepdad and coach as the alleged abuser.

A former South East school sport coach is currently facing trial for allegedly sexually assaulting one of his players. Picture: Arj Ganesan

The 53-year-old South East man, who allegedly began an illicit sexual relationship with the girl when she was eight, has not been identified to protect the identity of his alleged victim.

According to court documents, the alleged offending occurred between May 2006 and May 2015

The man has been charged with one count of maintain an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

Under cross examination the South East man’s lawyer Matthew Mead questioned the witness’ testimony, asking if she had made it up, the court heard.

Mr Mead questioned her evidence on the stand in comparison to a signed six-page statement.

“You knew it was an important document,” Mr Mead said.

“In that statement, you make no mention of (the complainant) saying that the abuse was sexual in any way — and made no mention of saying ‘how do you think I got the dogs’.”

During Mr Adams’ opening address, the court heard the accused had allegedly told the girl he could convince her mother to get another dog in return for sex.

The man allegedly told the girl he would need to “play down there”, the court heard.

“The accused asked (the girl) to remove her top, pants and underwear” before sexually assaulting the child, the court heard.

The court heard the alleged victim was gifted a number of dogs, gifts and trips following instances of alleged abuse.

During one alleged incident, the man pulled his penis out and allegedly rubbed it on the girl’s bikini brief while they were alone in the pool.

Mr Adams said the man attempted to pull her bikini bottoms off, allegedly telling his stepdaughter “it wouldn’t hurt”.

“She told him to stop (and) threatened to tell someone — a few weeks later, (she) was gifted another dog,” Mr Adams said.

The jury trial continues.