Police officer Simon Gorzechowski, 41, jailed for abusing teenage stepdaughter

He was supposed to be the “face of safety”, but this cop turned out to be a predator behind closed doors. Now his victim says she can finally move on after a Judge handed down his sentence.

• Stepdaughter speaks out on abuse
• Disgraced ex-cop jailed

A former SA Police officer who was supposed to be ‘the face of safety’ but instead sexually abused his then 15-year-old stepdaughter has been handed a jail term.

There were tears of relief in the South Australian District Court on Wednesday afternoon as Simon Gorzechowski, 41 of Old Reynella learned he’d spend at least two and a half years behind bars.

Gorzechowski, who worked as an SA Police officer for over a decade, was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of indecent assault after his teenage stepdaughter disclosed his abuse to a therapist. 

Found guilty at a jury trial of the two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, but not-guilty of the indecent assault charge, Gorzechowski had argued the teenager was lying about his assault.

Simon Gorzechowski was found guilty at trial of sexually abusing his teen stepdaughter.

He’ll stay behind bars until at least 2027.

But in sentencing on Wednesday Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett said he believed the victim’s evidence during the trial that Gorzechowski had been sexually inappropriate with her well before he abused her in her own bedroom in late 2021.

“I find that there is evidence which makes it clear that when you were sober, you had said and done things that suggested you had a sexual interest in your stepdaughter,” Judge Barrett said.

“There are also text messages in which you had said you loved her, not as a father and daughter.

“I find that on the morning after you offended against her, you knew you shouldn’t have done what you did, but that you really liked it.”

Former SA Police officer Simon Gorzechowski.

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

He said Gorzechowski’s abuse of the teenager - who he had raised since she was five years old - was a serious breach of trust.

“Although the offending had nothing to do with your job, you were a policeman at the time and your step daughter was, for that reason apart from any other, entitled to trust you not to do anything improper to her.”

He jailed Gorzechowski for four years, with a non-parole period of two years and six months, and backdated it to his arrest in September of last year.

He will be eligible for parole in March 2027.

Although she is ultimately grateful for his jail term, the young victim, now 18, said she is disgusted that he was supposed to be the face of safety, but turned out to be a criminal behind closed doors.

“To be the face of safety, and safety of the community, and to do that, it’s sad and worrying,” she said.

“I think that because he is a police officer, and he knows those laws as well, he swore to protect them, and he’s broken them, it should be more of a sentence.

“I do think it is a very positive outcome, I was happy with whatever he gets. His life is ruined as it is.”

The young victim (left) and her mother leave court after the sentencing. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

The victim’s mother said she was relieved the process is over, but was still haunted knowing her daughter had to hide Gorzechowski’s crimes for so long.

“It was absolutely horrific to hear the details of what he did to her, and to know none of us knew and she had to suffer for so long,” she said.

“(The victim) was brave enough to come out and speak about it, and it’s a huge weight off our chests.”

*The victim has given permission for Gorzechowski to be identified, and understands this may also identify her.*

Originally published as Police officer Simon Gorzechowski, 41, jailed for abusing teenage stepdaughter