Heath Wayne Tonkin, coffee van owner, pleads guilty to child sexual offences on first day of his trial

The former co-owner of a popular mobile Adelaide coffee van has admitted he made vile approaches to children – just as he was about to go to trial.

Heath Wayne Tonkin has pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences. Picture: Emma Brasier

The former co-owner of a popular mobile coffee van and “repeat offender” has pleaded guilty to child sexual offences on the first day of his trial – two years after his arrest.

Heath Wayne Tonkin, 45, appeared in the District Court in January for trial charged with five counts of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity.

But Judge Emily Telfer heard from Miranda Van Heuven, for Tonkin, that the matter had resolved.

Prosecutor Hilda Kinuthia confirmed two of five counts would be withdrawn, and consolidated into three – to which Tonkin pleaded guilty from the dock.

Tonkin was arrested by detectives from the South Australian branch of the elite Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team on December 7, 2022.

Tonkin’s counsel foreshadowed an expert psychological report before sentencing submissions were made. Picture: Emma Brasier

It was alleged that toward the end of 2022 the 45-year-old was communicating with a child under the age of 14 years.

Ms Kinuthia told the court Tonkin was to be sentenced as a “serious repeat offender”.

Her Honour heard during sentencing she was precluded from suspending any sentence or ordering it be served on home detention due to the seriousness of the offence.

The court heard while on bail, Tonkin had breached his conditions by returning a positive drug test to methamphetamine.

Ms Van Heuven said she would argue Tonkin had “exceptional personal circumstances” meaning he should not be sentenced as a serious repeat offender – but needed a psychological report first.

“The precise basis for that application may depend on what falls from the psychological report,” Ms Van Heuven said.

The court heard an affidavit from Tonkin would be prepared in addition to the report.

Judge Telfer asked if prosecutors would seek the revocation of Tonkin’s bail, but Ms Kinuthia foreshadowed an application would be made on the next occasion.

Tonkin was the co-owner of The Red Bakery Van, a mobile coffee and pastries van.

The company’s now-closed Facebook page called it a “local family business bringing the best mid-coast bakery products closer to our community with love”.