Former SA Police officer Simon Gorzechowski behind bars after sexually assaulting teenage stepdaughter

He was a stepfather who was also entrusted with protecting the community. But now he’s behind after betraying his duty in unimaginable ways.

The identity of a former SA Police officer who is now living behind bars after sexually abusing his teenage stepdaughter can now be revealed.

Simon Gorzechowski, 41 of Old Reynella, was jailed last year after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting the teenager at trial.

The former cop pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of indecent assault after his then 15-year-old stepdaughter opened up to a therapist about his abuse, which took place between September or October 2021.

Simon Gorzechowski was found guilty at trial of sexually abusing his teen stepdaughter. The victim is not pictured here with Simon Gorzechowski.

Former SA Police officer Simon Gorzechowski was found guilty of sexually abusing his step daughter.

During the trial last September, prosecutor Ben Sturm told the jury the incident occurred after Gorzechowski had been drinking with the victim in their family home.

On the night of the incident, Mr Sturm said, Gorzechowski had given the victim a foot massage.

“Then he put his hands on her leg and gradually began moving up,” he said.

“He pulled her onto his lap, he kissed her and had his tongue inside her mouth.

“He climbed on top of her and kissed her neck, he then started feeling all over her body and then put his hands down her pants.”

The jury heard the victim had a hickey on her neck the following morning, which Gorzechowski told her to “pretend was an irritation”.

The trial heard Gorzechowski had made admissions about his abuse to his then wife – the young victim’s mother – after he found out she’d alerted someone.

“He admitted on the phone to (the victim’s mother) that he had ‘f***ed up’, that he kissed (the victim) and did more or other things. He didn’t want to say what those other things were.”

The now 41-year-old pleaded not guilty to the crimes, but was found guilty at trial. The victim is not pictured here with Simon Gorzechowski.

He’s now in custody awaiting sentencing.

The court heard Gorzechowski would tell the victim that he had ruined her childhood, but also threatened to hurt himself if she ever came forward.

“He also made comments if she told anyone he would kill himself,” Mr Sturm said.

The Advertiser understands Gorzechowski was working in general patrols at SA Police at the time of the offending and had been the victim’s stepfather since she was five years old.

On September 10, the jury returned two guilty verdicts in relation to the two unlawful sexual intercourse charges.

They did, however, find him not guilty of the indecent assault charge.

He is yet to be sentenced, with the teenager and her mother due to give victim impact statements to the court, but has launched an appeal to try and overturn his guilty verdict.

*The victim in this matter has given permission for his identity to be revealed, and understands this may also identify her.*

Originally published as Former SA Police officer Simon Gorzechowski behind bars after sexually assaulting teenage stepdaughter