South-East man who allegedly abused his stepdaughter in the shower faces trial for alleged historic abuse

A South-East man facing trial for the alleged historic sexual abuse of his stepdaughter allegedly conditioned his daughter while in the shower, a court has heard. Warning: Distressing content

A South-East man on trial for historical child sexual abuse allegedly conditioned his daughter into vile acts while they showered together, a court has heard.

The court heard the man would sexually abuse the girl in a number of locations.

According to court documents the alleged offending occurred between 2004 and 2007.

He has not been identified in order to protect the identity of his alleged victim.

Prosecutor Gregory Dudzinski told Mount Gambier District Court the man had allegedly begun abusing his stepdaughter from the time she was roughly five.

A South-East man on trial for historical child sexual abuse allegedly conditioned his daughter to hold his penis while he urinated. Picture: File

Mr Dudzinski said the man would often guide the alleged victim’s hand to his penis when they showered together, which she would allegedly hold while he urinated.

“As this became a much more normal, repeated occurrence — she would place her hand there without the physical intervention,” he said.

“The defendant would ask (the alleged victim) to hold his penis while he urinated — this again happened with some disturbing regularity.”

Another way in which the defendant would allegedly abuse the victim involved pillow and blanket forts, the court heard.

Mr Dudzinski said when the girl’s mother wasn’t home he would sometimes rub the girl’s genitalia, the court heard.

The 74-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a child, and is facing a jury trial.

Earlier this year the South Australian parliament amended the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 and changed “unlawful sexual relationship with a child” to “sexual abuse of a child”.

The change comes as part of the Harmony Campaign, spearheaded by former Australian of the Year and anti-sex abuse campaigner Grace Tame.

The court heard on one occasion, while watching TV in the lounge room the alleged victim was near her stepdad who was drinking beer.

“(She) doesn‘t remember all the steps up to what happened — but she remembers the accused pouring beer into her vagina,” Mr Dudzinski said.

Following this alleged incident the girl confided the alleged abuse to her grandmother before going to police in 2007.

The girl’s mother decided not to proceed with charges — with the alleged victim approaching police again in 2021 now that she’s an adult.

The alleged victim is expected to give her evidence on Wednesday.

The court will also hear from the girl’s sister who allegedly witnessed the abuse.

The jury trial continues.