SA cheerleading coach faces court accused of sexually exploiting a child, but her lawyer says ‘jealous rivalry’ to blame
A cheerleading coach is facing a potentially lengthy jail term for allegedly sexually exploiting a girl – but her lawyer says the charge resulted from a “jealous rivalry”.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An Adelaide cheerleading coach has been accused of sexually exploiting one of the girls in her care – but her lawyer says the charge is false and arises from a “jealous rivalry”.
The woman, 22, who has worked with cheerleading teams that have competed around Australia and also overseas, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
She has yet to plead to one count of persistent sexual exploitation of a child and, if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Outside court her lawyer, Craig Caldicott, said the charge – which dates back five years – would be “strenuously fought” by his client.
“What’s happened, as I understand it, is there was a switch of clubs and the allegations came out after the new club had been formed,” he said.
“She went from one club to another, and it appears there might be a jealous rivalry that’s formed … this charge will be strongly contested and hard-fought.
“One would ask why has it taken so long to come out, and does it have anything to do with the fact there’s been a change from one club to the other club?”
Court documents, filed by SA Police, allege the offending occurred between August 2015 and December 2017 in a suburb north of the city.
Police allege the exploitation consisted of at least three sexual acts against a female minor including kissing and inappropriate touching of her body.
It is further alleged the woman also showed the victim sexually inappropriate videos.
On Tuesday, police asked the matter be adjourned for 14 weeks to prepare a full brief of evidence for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Advertiser asked the court grant an exemption from the state’s now abolished, but still active, suppression order laws to permit publication of the woman’s identity.
It argued that Parliament clearly intended alleged offenders be named, and that the new laws had been postponed only to allow police and the courts to alter internal processes.
Magistrate Jayne Basheer agreed Parliament’s intent was clear but said she was not prepared to grant the exemption sought.
She remanded the woman on continuing bail to face court again in July.
Outside court, Mr Caldicott said his client had been unable to work since the charge was laid in March.
“There’s all these prohibitions (upon her) because the charge was laid … that’s a double tragedy and that’s why it’s just a huge issue for her going forward,” he said.
“She appears to be very genuine in what she says, that she is not guilty, and she’s been incredibly upset by these allegations which she considers to be false.”