Malcolm Wardle targeted 20 teenage girls in years-long child sex offending spree

A young man coaxed 20 teenage girls into sending nude photos and later abused several of them – despite coming to attention of police years earlier, a court has heard.

A young man used the offer of “free money” to coax teenage girls into sending him nude photos or performing sex acts – but a court has heard he came to the attention of police years earlier.

Malcolm Wardle, 22, preyed on 20 teenage girls over the course of several years through social media. He physically abused seven young women, many of whom attended the same Adelaide high school.

On Monday, Wardle appeared in the District Court for sentencing submissions on almost 30 charges including indecent assault, procuring a child for sexual activity and disseminating child exploitation material.

Malcolm Wardle has pleaded guilty to almost 30 sex offences against young girls. Picture: Supplied

Judge Geraldine Davison heard Wardle’s offending followed a similar path in relation to the young women.

Wardle offered a “price guide” for photos, which would be sent to him by the teenage girls.

He would pay them various sums of money for different kinds of photos and, in the case of some of the young women, would take them for drives in his car where he would abuse them.

The court heard some of the victims had approached Wardle looking for “free money” by sending photos.

However, a prosecutor told the court the girls would quickly find there was “no such thing as free money and there were strings attached”.

While Wardle was not accused of making the photos available online, he admitted showing some victims the photos of other young women.

The court heard when Wardle was 18 police became aware he had been inappropriately interacting with underage girls over social media.

Officers warned him about the behaviour but did not charge him with any offending.

“He enjoyed the power he had over his victims,” the prosecutor said.

A series of victim impact statements read to the court showed the young women and their families had been traumatised by the crimes.

“I was only a child and was preyed upon by a fully grown adult,” one victim said.

“How could you do this to her?” the grandmother of one victim said.

“It was disgusting and despicable behaviour. I forgive you but you need to get help.”

Wardle’s offended escalated and he paid a teenage girl $500 to prevent her going to police.

The court previously heard allegations that, between May 2018 and September 2019, he used the Snapchat app to approach girls aged between 12 and 16.

They alleged Wardle kept a “price guide”, offering $10 and up for lewd and sexual photos, images and videos of the girls.

Patrick Dawes, for Wardle, said his client had accepted he was a paedophile and would no longer use social media when eventually released from prison.

Wardle pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court. Mr Dawes said his client had not wanted any of the victims to have to give evidence at trial and had shown his remorse early.

Wardle will be sentenced next month.