Accused sex predator mum smuggling messages from jail cell to alleged victims, her own twins

A mum facing dozens of child sex charges has sought to manipulate her victims – her own twins – from her prison cell, a court has heard.

A mother accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting her twin foster children, both on her own and with her then-boyfriend, has been caught trying to psychologically manipulate them from her jail cell, a court has heard.

On Thursday, SA Police and the AFP’s elite Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to slap further control orders on the mother, who cannot be identified.

They told the court she had attempted to smuggle messages to the children inside letters addressed to her own mother, in breach of existing non-contact orders.

The letters, intercepted by Department for Correctional Services staff, include greetings cards, handwritten notes and colouring book pages talking about “a mother’s love”.

SA’s elite JACET officers say the mother is trying to psychologically harm the children from her cell. Picture: Matt Loxton

JACET alleged the love-bombing messages were designed to manipulate and psychologically damage the children, who are now in their father’s care.

The children’s father is not, and has never been, suspected nor accused of any wrongdoing, and is their lawful full-time carer.

But the mother refuted the accusation, telling the court it “simply isn’t the case” – because she was just pursuing her therapy.

She claimed she wrote the material to address her own, failing “mental wellbeing” and intended the children receive it only once they were adults.

The mother, 44, and her former boyfriend, 26, were arrested after he allegedly boasted, to another woman on Tinder, he had “sexually assaulted my ex’s kids”.

They have yet to plead to a combined 77 charges including unlawful sexual intercourse and producing child exploitation material.

The children are now in the care of their father, who is not and has never been accused of any wrongdoing. Image: Generic

Prosecutors have alleged the couple facilitated the repeated sexual abuse of two foster children who have been in the mother’s care since they were just weeks old.

They have alleged the mother perpetrated acts of abuse upon the children both in the presence of her then-boyfriend and on her own, when he was not there.

Prosecutors further alleged the couple discussed their conduct in 30,000 text messages and went “spotting” in shopping malls for more victims.

The couple were not due to face court again until next month, however JACET had the mother called into court, by video link, on Thursday.

A prosecutor said the unit had filed a lengthy affidavit outlining its concerns about her alleged attempted contact, including scanned copies of her letters, cards and colouring pages.

“The defendant has been contacting, or attempting to contact, the children through these letters,” he said.

“An order needs to be put in place to prevent abuse of a psychological nature, and to protect these children.”

Prosecutors allege the mother and her now ex-boyfriend went “spotting” for other potential victims in shopping centres. Picture: Generic.

Alan Brayley, for the mother, said that was not necessary.

“The prosecution’s allegation simply isn’t the case … my client’s mental wellbeing is, well, she’s not doing particularly well,” he said.

“She has been engaging with various support officers and workers, who recommended she write some letters for her own benefit.

“Her intention was to provide them to her mother to be held until a later day and time when it might be appropriate for them to read.”

Mr Brayley said his client had not, and would not, attempt to contact the children nor their father directly.

Magistrate John Wells remanded the mother in custody for two weeks, at which time he will hand down his decision.