Former Port Augusta prison guard jailed over sexual relationship with vulnerable child

A former Port Augusta prison guard has been jailed over a sexual relationship he had with a vulnerable child.

Ryan Burk outside court in 2022. Picture: Dean Martin/The Advertiser

A former Port Augusta prison guard has been jailed over a sexual relationship he had with a vulnerable child, almost 20 years ago.

Ryan Stephen Burk, now 40 years old, claimed he did not know he was committing a serious sexual offence – but a judge found he had been warned by his father that the relationship could land him behind bars.

Burk met the girl, who is more than seven years younger than him and had a sexual relationship with her from around the time of her 15th birthday in 2007.

“She was experiencing difficulties at home,” Judge Gordon Barrett said while sentencing Burk late last year.

“She was young and vulnerable.”

He began working at the prison in 2009 and continued until he was stood down following his arrest. Following that, he worked as a bottle shop attendant then a barman.

Burk, who has lived his whole life in Port Augusta, pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

Judge Barrett accepted that prison will be more difficult for him because of his former job, and he is likely to serve most, if not all, of his sentence in protective custody.

“As well as facing possible antagonism from prisoners, you may find that relations with some staff may be difficult,” he said.

He added that, although Burk has expressed remorse for his crime, the law regards this sort of offending extremely seriously and “the damage has been done”.

“The victim has missed out on further education, employment and she has had some difficulties with family and personal relations,” he said.

He handed Burk a head sentence of five years, five months and fixed a non-parole period of two years, six months.

Burk will be eligible for parole in mid-2026.