Loxton man Nicholas Lawrence Moore jailed after booking motel room for fictitious teen girl

A Riverland father has been sentenced after telling a 14-year-old girl he wanted to “make her feel special” – before booking a motel room for his vile plans.

A Riverland church member has been jailed after trying to lure a teen girl for sex at an Adelaide Hills motel room – telling her he wanted to “make her feel special and loved” and “treat her like a princess”.

On Friday, the District Court heard Nicholas Lawrence Moore, of Loxton, also tried to coerce the fictitious 14-year-old girl’s “younger sister” into telling her dad she needed to spend a weekend with her mum so that he, in turn, could offer to babysit and “teach her how to kiss”.

During sentencing, Judge Michelle Sutcliffe told the court Moore, 57, had left a “handwritten love letter” inside the motel room where he would later attempt to “massage and kiss” the young girl.

Nicholas Moore, of Loxton, appeared in the District Court. Picture: 7NEWS

“You discussed marrying her and having a family,” Judge Sutcliffe said. “You told her that you would massage and kiss her, and that you would bring protection in case you had sex.

“You told her you had ordered a bubble bath and chocolate massage oil. You said you wanted to take her as a wife.

“When you were interviewed by police, you admitted communicating with a 14- and 10-year-old but denied saying anything inappropriate and denied intending to pick up a 14-year-old to take her to a motel room.”

Moore was arrested by police at the Bowden train station where he had organised to pick the 14-year-old girl up from following a 12-week investigation

Nicholas Moore was sentenced on Friday. Picture: 7NEWS

He faced court last month for sentencing submissions after pleading guilty to two counts of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity and one count of producing child exploitation material.

A prosecutor previously told the court Moore, a father of one and member of the Riverland Christian Community Church, “was obsessed” with meeting up with the two girls.

On Friday, Judge Sutcliffe noted Moore told the fictitious 10-year-old girl that she “could not tell anyone” because their “friendship could be stopped”.

“You contacted the person you believed to be her mother and arranged to babysit her,” she said.

“You sent a voice message to her saying that she was cute and you loved her.

“You continued to chat with her – telling her you were thinking about touching her and wanted to make her feel good. You talked about tickling, hugging and kissing, and wanting her to be your girlfriend.

“You suggested that you could babysit her while her mum was at work so you could cuddle, and teach her how to kiss.”

Judge Sutcliffe sentenced Moore to three years and six months imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years which was backdated to his 2024 arrest. He will be eligible for parole in May next year.

Originally published as Loxton man Nicholas Lawrence Moore jailed after booking motel room for fictitious teen girl