Review ordered after 13yo pregnant girl in state care is abused by predator

A pregnant 13-year-old in state care was abused by a paedophile in a shocking case that has prompted a serious review.

A 13-year-old pregnant girl was abused while in state care.

A 20-year-old South Australian man has been jailed for abusing a 13-year-old pregnant girl in state care after he continued his relationship with the victim when he was directed not to make contact with her.

Philip Edwin McIntosh met his underage victim at a Hindley St nightclub in 2019 where she allegedly bought cigarettes and drinks, according to sentencing remarks.

McIntosh and the victim, who was pregnant with another person's child, later had a sexual relationship which lasted several months.

The District Court heard McIntosh, who was arrested for the sexual offending in February 2020, was remanded in custody until later in the month and denied having a sexual relationship with the victim when interviewed by police.

However, Judge Sophie David said the man resumed contact with the victim once released and continued having a sexual relationship with her.

McIntosh later received a written direction stating he could not communicate or attempt to communicate with the teenager until September 2023 which he breached.

“(The victim) said that she was uncomfortable in the sexual relationship and that she wanted to leave,” Judge David said.

“She also said that your offending has adversely affected her relationship with her son.”

McIntosh was sentenced to more than six years jail on Wednesday.

The incident prompted the state government to conduct an independent review into the Department for Child Protection’s protocols and practices.

Minister Rachel Sanderson said she was not told of the case until it was presented in the media.

Three months ago Ms Sanderson also said she was unaware of a different case involving a 13-year-old in state care who fell pregnant to a predator.

“I share the public's outrage … which is why we’re conducting an independent review to find out how this could happen and why I wasn’t notified once again until after the sentencing remarks,” Ms Sanderson said on Friday.

“I’m informed the girl in the recent case is safe and well and being looked after in a specialised facility.”

Ms Sanderson said the department’s chief executive Cathy Taylor was made aware of the case last year but did not inform her.

Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson said she wasn’t told of the case until it appeared in the media. AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

“I believed after the first case, that the protocols we put in place would have alerted me to this event, bearing in mind this occurred prior to the changes that were made in May.

“I'm not satisfied with what’s happened … I have asked my chief executive to ring every single department office and make sure I’m notified of every single (serious) case.”

The review is expected to be finalised early next year but Ms Sanderson could not commit to making it publicly available in full.

Earlier in the day, opposition child protection spokeswoman Katrine Hildyard called on Ms Sanderson to answer questions about the “serious failings” regarding how and when she knew about the case and what policies and procedures were in place when the “utterly shocking and deeply unacceptable” incident occurred.

“How on earth do we end with a horrendous situation where a girl is pregnant, abused and enabled to live with a paedophile?” Ms Hildyard said.

“The Minister is failing children in care.”