Mother and former partner jailed for abusing daughter over five years around South Australia

A mother who allowed then participated in the sexual abuse of her daughter – even taking her to the doctor for a pill script – has been jailed for the “difficult to imagine” offending.

A mother who allowed then participated in the sexual abuse of her daughter – taking her to the doctor for a pill script because the child was “sexually active” at 12 – has been jailed for the “difficult to imagine” offending.

The court heard the mother had “enabled” her then partner, the girl’s stepfather, to abuse her biological daughter before later becoming involved in the abuse herself.

The child was sexually abused over five years from when she was 12 to 16.

In sentencing, District Court Judge Emily Telfer told the mother her daughter was “entitled to expect” to be protected from being sexually exploited

“Instead of protecting her you first enabled the sexual abuse of her permitting (the stepfather) to assault her and then you joined in his exploitation by engaging in sexual contact with him and (the girl),” Judge Telfer said.

“It is difficult to imagine a more gross breach of trust between a mother and daughter.”

Judge Telfer said the mother had maintained her innocence in an appointment with a psychologist.

The girl’s former stepfather has been jailed for sexually abusing the girl from when she was 12-16. Picture: Facebook.

A mother has been jailed for sexually abusing her biological daughter over a number of years. Picture: Facebook.

A key part of the prosecution case against the former couple was the statement of a doctor who saw the girl when she was 12. The doctor noted the mother requested her daughter be prescribed the contraceptive pill because the girl was “sexually active”.

Judge Telfer said the duo had moved around often which meant the girl had been unable to find stable friends or support.

“The effect of your lifestyle was that (the girl) was isolated from any support which could have assisted her to understand and escape her abuse,” she said.

The abuse ended when the girl went to stay with an aunt, to whom she then reported the abuse before going to the police.

The girl previously told the court she had “wanted to be treated like a daughter”.

“I remember staring out the window having tears roll down my face just wanting it to be over and done with, but there was no use fighting it because then I would get treated like crap again,” she had told the court.

Judge Telfer said it was “impossible to properly summarise the destruction” the pair had wrought on the girl’s life but said she had “shown great courage” in court.

“Despite what you did to her she is becoming a strong, smart and driven young woman,” she said.

In July, the child’s biological mother and her partner were both found guilty of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

After time served and on home detention, Judge Telfer jailed the mother for 10 years and three months with a non-parole period of seven years. She jailed the stepfather for 12 years and seven months and set a non-parole period of eight years and seven months.