Mother refused bail after allegedly abusing one child, and asking another not to give evidence, court told

A mother allegedly offered inducements such as clothes and a “desired” new school if a child withdrew a statement alleging sexual abuse, a court has heard.

A woman charged with sexually abusing her own child also allegedly attempted to dissuade another child from giving evidence by offering inducements such as food and clothes, a court had heard.

The southern suburbs woman, 44, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the children, is yet to enter pleas to charges including persistent sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of preventing a person from giving evidence.

She appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday seeking release on bail.

Opposing her request, Kevin Lowe, prosecuting, said the woman and her de facto partner were separately, and together, alleged to have had an unlawful sexual relationship with one of her children.

The de facto partner was also separately alleged to have abused an older child.

Mr Lowe said the woman then repeatedly contacted the older child, while banned from doing so, via social media app Snapchat and asked her to withdraw the allegations against the de facto partner.

“The witness states (the woman) offered inducements for (the child) to withdraw the statements, specifically that they would move house and the witness could attend a particular school,” he said.

“She offered the witness food and clothing she knew (the child) desired.”

He said the woman told the child she would “not need to spend $30,000 on legal fees” if the charges were retracted and would instead be able to spend the money on her children.

Mr Lowe said the woman also asked the older child to contact the younger child in a bid to have that child also withdraw a statement.

He said the older child took screenshots of the conversations which were provided to police.

Mr Lowe said the witness had approached police asking to withdraw her statement, but then decided to continue with the allegations.

He said the child later told police she initially withdrew the statement because she “felt guilty because mum kept saying she would be put in prison for life and never see us again”.

Mr Lowe told the court the woman had later wiped her phone.

Lawyers for the woman said there was “information to suggest” one of the children had a “history of creating false online identities in order to make herself appear a victim”.

He said his client, who said she had been denied ADHD medication while in prison, needed to be released from prison to provide evidence supporting that claim.

Chief Magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, refused bail due to the seriousness of the allegations, concerns the woman would interfere with the investigation and protection of the alleged victims.

“I don’t believe home detention would provide the appropriate level of protection for both of the complainants,” she said.