Philip Edwin McIntosh met his 13-year-old pregnant victim at Red Square nightclub, court transcript reveals

A man was jailed for abusing a 13-year-old pregnant girl in state care he met at a nightclub - and SA’s Child Protection Minister had no idea until media reports.

Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson has admitted she was not aware a teen girl had fallen pregnant in state care – just months after a similar incident was uncovered.

Ms Sanderson has ordered an independent inquiry into why she was not told about two cases involving pregnant teens under her care.

On Friday, she conceded “there could be” more cases.

Ms Sanderson said she also wanted to know why Child Protection Department boss Cathy Taylor knew of the most recent case last year but did not report it to her.

On Wednesday, 20-year-old Philip Edwin McIntosh was sentenced to more than six years in prison for maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and breaching a direction not to communicate with his victim.

Court transcripts show he met the 13-year-old girl in mid-to-late 2019 at Hindley Street nightclub Red Square. She was pregnant and living in state care.

Patrons line up at the Red Square nightclub on Hindley Street. Picture: Supplied

It follows revelations in September that Matthew James McIntyre was jailed for abusing and impregnating another 13-year-old girl in state care.

Ms Sanderson confirmed she did not learn of either case until they were reported in the media.

But she said Ms Taylor had been “aware of the general incident” involving McIntosh and his victim last year.

“I share the outrage that I’m sure the public shares as to, firstly, how this could happen and why I wasn’t notified once again,” Ms Sanderson said.

“It’s completely unacceptable. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare ... that this could happen to such a young person.”

She said an independent review would begin within weeks and report early next year, but did not commit to making the findings public. Ms Taylor did not answer questions about whether she informed the minister, saying in a statement she would “await the findings of the review”.

Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson. Picture: Matt Loxton

Ms Sanderson has asked Ms Taylor “to ring every single department office and make sure that I am notified of every single (similar) case” currently known to the department.

Opposition child protection spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard said the situation was “utterly shocking and deeply unacceptable”. “This is a serious breach in the system,” she said. She urged Ms Sanderson to fund a scheme to better check on children in state care.

Guardian for children in state care Penny Wright said she was “troubled” that she was not notified about the latest case. “I’m required by legislation to act as an advocate ... but it’s impossible for me to meet this requirement if I’m not being notified or resourced to do this,” she said.

Riley Foundation social worker Nadia Bergineti said department staff were aware and concerned about children running away from state care.

“They are sending the police out, they’re lodging those missing persons reports, but they don’t feel they can do anything about it,” she said.

“These kids are just trying to find attachment anywhere they can.” In the latest case, the girl, 13, gave birth to a baby boy, who is also now in state care. Asked about the father of the baby, Ms Sanderson said: “I understand there are no further charges being laid.”