Illawarra stepfather allegedly twice raped kindergarten girl: trial

An man bailed to an address in western Sydney allegedly raped his stepdaughter in their Illawarra home while her mother was out of town for work. WARNING: Graphic content.

The girl was in kindergarten at the time of the three alleged incidents.

A court has heard disturbing allegations regarding an Illawarra stepfather sexually abusing a girl while her mother was away for work.

The man in his 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and intentionally inciting a child under 10 to sexually touch them.

The allegations were aired by Crown prosecutor Glen Porter on the opening day of a trial at Wollongong District Court, with proceedings expected to run for five days.

The court heard the man was in an “on again off again” relationship with the alleged victim’s mother with defence barrister David Mulligan also describing it as “fractious”.

The girl’s mother was working for the defendant’s sister’s business outside of the Illawarra when the alleged incidents took place at various points in 2020.

It is alleged the girl – who was in kindergarten at the time – was told to get on the man’s lap while he was watching Ghostbusters with the alleged victim’s younger sibling.

The court heard the man allegedly ordered her to “wriggle” and then sexually touched her.

The allegations were heard on day one of a trial at Wollongong District Court.

Mr Porter told the court the man told the girl to keep it a secret, however, he said she revealed the alleged incidents to her mother.

“Mum I need to tell you something about dad,” she allegedly said.

The girl then allegedly provided a graphic description about a sexual act the man asked her to do.

The girl was interviewed by police before the man was arrested and charged in January, 2021, where he denied the allegations.

The court heard the girl disclosed more alleged incidents to her mother after being interviewed by police.

One of the alleged incidents occurred in front of the girl’s younger sibling, the court heard.

Those allegations are too graphic and distressing to repeat.

The man was arrested and charged with the additional two sexual assault offences in February, 2021.

Mr Porter told the court the trial is expected to hear evidence from a specialist from the Port Kembla Sexual Health clinic who saw the alleged victim.

The Crown prosecutor also said the alleged victim, her mother and the officer in charge of the investigation will give evidence during the trial, a majority of which is expected to be held in a closed court.

The man remains on bail where he is under house arrest at an address in western Sydney and he is prohibited from entering the Illawarra suburb where the alleged victim lives.