Loxton man Nicholas Moore booked motel room for 14-year-old girl – who was actually undercover cop, court told

A Riverland father “obsessed” with meeting up with two girls told one he’d booked a Hills motel room and dinner – and had massage oil and condoms, a court has heard.

A church member bought massage oil and condoms before booking an Adelaide Hills motel room – and dinner at a restaurant – for a 14-year-old girl, a court has heard.

Nicholas Lawrence Moore, of Loxton, appeared in the District Court on Monday where it was revealed he sent photos of a Hahndorf motel bed and bath tub to an undercover police officer – telling the fictitious teenage girl he “wanted to get in with her”.

The court also heard Moore, an employee of Kingston Estate Wines, had arranged to meet with the mother of a 10-year-old girl he was also talking to – another undercover officer – offering to “babysit” her child.

He has pleaded guilty to two counts of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity and one count of producing child exploitation material.

A prosecutor told Judge Michelle Sutcliffe Moore, 57, a father of one and member of the Riverland Christian Community Church, “was obsessed” with meeting up with the two girls.

He was arrested at a Bowden train station where he had planned to pick one of them up from.

“It is obvious from the evidence that the defendant had an intention to actually engage in sexual activity with both girls while they were children,” they said.

Nicholas Moore, of Loxton, appeared in the District Court. Picture: 7NEWS

“In relation to ‘Ava’, the defendant made concrete plans and went to extreme lengths – in his mind – to make arrangements where he could meet the 14-year-old girl and engage in sexual acts with her. This is demonstrated by the defendant’s actions of booking the motel room, booking dinner at the restaurant, purchasing gifts and snacks, and purchasing massage oil and condoms.

“He encouraged both girls to keep their messaging a secret and expressed concern that the girl’s parents may check their phones. The defendant goes as far to say that he thinks ‘the world is so wrong at times’ and that ‘the laws aren’t always right’.”

Detectives from Berri Criminal Investigation Branch and the Public Protection Branch arrested Moore in May, 2024, following a 12-week investigation.

On Monday, the court heard Moore had “groomed” the girls for five weeks via a messaging service, and proceeded to engage in “sexualised messaging” for a further seven weeks.

Casey Isaacs, for Moore, told the court his client was “remorseful” for his actions, and had been undertaking bible studies while in custody on remand.

Moore will return to court next month for sentencing.

Originally published as Loxton man Nicholas Moore booked motel room for 14-year-old girl – who was actually undercover cop, court told