Adam Ledgerwood: Disability support carer gives evidence at sentence hearing

A Central Coast disability support worker who had sex with his client has told a court he didn’t realise his actions were criminal and only “vaguely” knew the boundaries between client and carer.

A Central Coast disability support carer who had sex with his client has told a court he didn’t realise his actions were criminal.

Adam Ledgerwood gave evidence during his sentence hearing at Sydney Downing Centre on Tuesday, appearing by video link supported by his new partner.

Mr Ledgerwood has pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual intercourse with a person with a cognitive impairment while he was employed by an in-home disability support service.

The 42-year-old told the court that at the time of the offences, he didn’t realise his actions were morally wrong but had since “done a 180”.

“The fact that I made the decision in the first place is silly on my behalf,” he told the court.

“I am very unhappy that I have put myself and (the victim) in this situation. I can’t apologise enough.”

Adam Ledgerwood pleaded guilty to having sex with a person with a cognitive impairment. Picture: Sue Graham

The court heard Mr Ledgerwood engaged in a sexual relationship with his client while he was employed as her support worker.

When asked if he was aware of the boundaries between carer and client, he said “vaguely, yes” and indicated he thought it was more morally wrong that he was married at the time.

When questioned if he persisted with the acts, including offering to be the victim’s “f**k buddy” for his own sexual gratification, he replied “no” and then “to a certain degree yes”.

He said he found it difficult to resist her and should have taken the moral high ground instead of the “idiotic choice” he made.

An agreed set of court facts state that the victim suffered a cognitive impairment which had deteriorated to the point where she was deemed “totally disabled”.

Mr Ledgerwood was hired to take her shopping and to medical appointments, help prepare meals and do household chores three days a week for four hour shifts.

“The complainant and the offender had a friendly relationship and would often joke around together,” the facts read.

Adam Ledgerwood will be sentenced in November. Picture: Sue Graham

The facts state that Mr Ledgerwood was working at the victim’s home when she complained of a sore back. He gave her a massage and then “placed his hand on the complainant’s [genitalia] on top of her clothing”.

She said, “What are you doing? This is going to ruin everything … you have got a wife and two little kids”.

He replied, “so long as you keep it between us. Come on, let’s go into the bedroom”.

They went to the bedroom where Mr Ledgerwood removed the victim’s pants, took off his clothes and performed cunnilingus on her.

The next time Mr Ledgerwood was at her house, she said “this can never, ever happen again”. He replied that they can be friends or she could be his “f**k” buddy.

On another occasion while he was working, Mr Ledgerwood again took the victim to the bedroom however this time had sexual intercourse with her. She experienced pain the next day due to his penis piercing and texted Mr Ledgerwood who apologised and said “I think it might have been the ring”.

A week later, the victim confided in a different support worker who told her to report it to police.

She told Mr Ledgerwood she no longer needed his services. He apologised to her and said “I am sorry that I was unable to say no. I hope you understand that I was not trying to take advantage of you in any way whatsoever”.

“I hope that there is enough forgiveness in your heart and your mum’s to not let this situation get leaked to the wrong people”.

Mr Ledgerwood’s sentence hearing was held at the Sydney Downing Centre. Picture: Nikki Short

When Mr Ledgerwood was arrested, he told police that his relationship with the victim was “not sexual” and that the victim insinuated she wanted to have sex with him.

Mr Ledgerwood’s criminal lawyer Michal Mantaj has pushed for a non-custodial sentence saying Mr Ledgerwood did not exercise authority over the victim.

“He gave evidence that he did not regard his actions as criminally wrong at the time of his conduct,” he said.

Mr Mantaj said Mr Ledgerwood also voluntarily ended the behaviour with the victim.

He said he would not reoffend and had shown remorse for his actions.

The Crown pointed to Mr Ledgerwood’s ignorance of his criminality and said the ongoing relationship with the victim was an aggravating factor.

“The offender instigated the relationship and he then persisted in establishing a ‘f**k buddy’ type of relationship,” she said.

She indicated that Mr Ledgerwood knew his actions were wrong yet persisted to sexually gratify himself.

“The accused couldn’t say no to the temptation before him,” the Crown stated.

Mr Ledgerwood will be sentenced on November 4.