Thomas Peacock awaits verdict, charged with sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl
A 44-year-old father who allegedly sexually abused a child said he couldn’t make more inquiries into her age because she didn’t have a driver’s licence, a court has heard.
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A man who allegedly sexually abused a child said he couldn’t make more inquiries into her age because she didn’t have a driver’s licence, a court has heard.
Thomas Francis Peacock, 44, awaits his verdict after allegedly paying the teenager to keep her mouth shut about the assaults.
Lisa Dunlop, for the prosecution, told the District Court in her opening statement that the “lonely” 16-year-old met Mr Peacock on social media in late 2019.
The court heard the alleged victim went to Mr Peacock’s Myponga house.
“On that first occasion that they met they drank alcohol, they smoked cannabis … and later on after that had happened they had sex,” Ms Dunlop said.
The court heard the alleged victim became a “fairly regular” visitor to Mr Peacock’s house, before she met a girl, also aged 16, through the internet.
The court heard the alleged victim suggested they spend time at Mr Peacock’s house and they stayed the night.
“In the morning (the alleged victim) will tell you that she went and got into the bed with the other two … and sexual activity took place as between the three of them at that time,” Ms Dunlop said.
The court heard a Snapchat video of Mr Peacock and the alleged victim was seen by Mr Peacock’s ex-partner, who confronted him.
Police arrested Mr Peacock shortly after and he was released from custody.
“Somewhat cautiously and somewhat more carefully than before, that relationship with (the alleged victim) … continues up to and past her 17th birthday in August 2020,” Ms Dunlop said.
The court heard Mr Peacock allegedly said to the girl “if you keep your mouth shut about things I’ll look after you”, paying her a total of $665 between June 2020 and April 2021.
The father-of-four pleaded not guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and unlawful sexual intercourse.
In closing statements earlier this month, Nick Vadasz, for Mr Peacock, told the court his client and other witnesses believed the alleged victim was aged 17 or older at the time.
When Judge Liesl Kudelka asked if Mr Peacock could have made more inquiries into the alleged victim’s age, Mr Vadasz asked how he could have done that as she didn’t have a driver’s licence.
“All she had to do, however, to put him off is say ‘You’ll get locked up if you hop into bed with me’,” he said.
Mr Vadasz said the alleged victim’s evidence shouldn’t be believed as there were a number of lies, including lying about having her age on Facebook.
Judge Kudelka reserved her verdict.