Kangaroo Island man John William Hardy on trial for allegedly sexually abusing seven boys on the island between 2002-2019

A Kangaroo Island man accused of sexually abusing seven boys has a shocking history of crimes against 24 other boys in another state, a court has heard.

A Kangaroo Island man accused of sexually abusing seven boys on the island has a shocking history of crimes against children in another state, a court has heard.

John William Hardy, 70, allegedly assaulted his South Australian victims between 2002 and 2019, when they were aged between six and 14 years old.

He has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges and is standing trial in the District Court.

Opening his case on Tuesday, prosecutor Patrick Hill said Hardy had admitted to and was convicted of offending against boys in Maclean, New South Wales, more than a decade before the Kangaroo Island allegations.

Mr Hill said a 1991 interview with NSW Police would be presented as evidence in the trial.

“It’s understood there were a total of 24 boys involved as alleged victims in that investigation, and (NSW Police) will say that the accused admitted the allegations in relation to all of them,” he said.

The court heard between 1988 and 1991 Hardy would invite local boys over to his caravan, where he would sexually abuse them.

John William Hardy is on trial accused of sexually abusing seven boys on Kangaroo Island between 2002 and 2019. Picture: Supplied

“Sometimes they would attend on their own but sometimes there’d be two or more boys attending the caravan,” Mr Hill said.

“The conduct often commenced with a game of strip poker … which would involve both the accused and the boys taking their clothes off.”

Mr Hill said the families of the victims were well-known to Hardy and each other.

While exact details of Hardy’s link to the Kangaroo Island boys cannot be revealed because it may identify the alleged victims, he was known to the families.

The alleged offences took place in houses and vehicles – sometimes in the victims’ homes – and, on several occasions, the boys were shown pornography and inappropriately touched.

In one case, it is alleged Hardy abused the victim over the span of about 2.5 years, beginning when he was six.

In an interview, the boy told police he trusted the older man because “he was nice” and “gave (him) snacks”.

That boy and his friend, who is also a victim, visited Hardy’s house and played in his bedroom, the court heard. He would also ferry children to and from their sporting commitments.

The court heard that Hardy married a woman from the Philippines in 2005, and the couple have since had two children.

Hardy, who is in custody, used crutches to enter and exit the court and took notes as he sat in the dock.

His charges include multiple counts of indecent assault and aggravated indecent assault, as well as maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

The trial continues before Judge Paul Cuthbertson in the absence of a jury.

A state government spokesperson said laws concerning sex offenders have changed since Hardy relocated to South Australia.

“New laws came into effect in South Australia in 2007, requiring certain persons who may have a propensity to commit sexual offences against children to keep the Commissioner of Police informed of their whereabouts and other personal details,” a statement said.

“Under the Child Sex Offenders Registration Act 2006, registrable sex offenders - including those moving from interstate - are required to report to the Commissioner.”