SA cheerleading coach will stand trial in February 2022 accused of abusing students

A top cheerleading coach will stand trial accused of abusing five students – but won’t face a jury until 2022.

A top cheerleading coach has been ordered to stand trial, accused of having ongoing, illegal sexual relationships with three of her female students.

A District Court jury will also be asked to pass verdicts on allegations she indecently assaulted two other girls during the same three-year period.

However, the woman’s trial will not start until February 2022, as the court continues to work through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s two lockdowns.

The woman, 22, cannot be named as doing so may tend to identify her alleged victims, whose privacy and anonymity are guaranteed under SA law.

She is known for her work with cheerleading teams that have competed around Australia and overseas.

When the woman first faced court in April, she was accused of having sexually exploited one student.

In July, prosecutors alleged there were three victims, and expressed fears there may be 14 more.

In September, the court was told prosecutors would proceed with allegations involving 14 girls in total.

They alleged the woman sexually exploited her victims between August 2015 and December 2017 in a suburb north of the city.

That alleged exploitation consisted of at least three sexual acts against female minors, including kissing and inappropriate touching of her body.

Prosecutors further alleged the woman also showed her victims sexually inappropriate videos.

Nine of the girls, they alleged, had reported incidents involving the woman at times that predate her 18th birthday.

The woman has repeatedly maintained her innocence, saying the charges arise from a “jealous rivalry” between two cheerleading clubs.