Jeffrey Thomas Brant standing trial, accused of sexually abusing his stepdaughter Kylie Bailey

A man who is accused of sexually abusing his three-year stepdaughter told her no one would believe her if she told anyone, a court heard.

A man is accused of committing horrific sexual abuse on his stepdaughter, who was as young as three when it allegedly started.

Jeffrey Thomas Brant, 68, is standing trial in the Adelaide District Court this week after pleading not guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

Prosecutor Paul Tate told the court in his opening statement that Mr Brant allegedly sexually abused Ms Bailey – who has given The Advertiser permission to identify her – between 1981 and 1992.

The court heard Ms Bailey, now 45, was regularly alone with Mr Brant when she lived with him after he started a relationship with her mother.

Mr Tate said Mr Brant allegedly started sexually abusing Ms Bailey at age three, with the first time happening then they were in the bath together.

Jeffrey Brant is standing trial after allegedly abusing his stepdaughter Kylie Bailey. Picture: Supplied

The court heard another alleged incident happened when Ms Bailey was seven and he kissed her on the lips before exposing himself to her.

“He told her that when she gets a boyfriend she will know what to do,” Mr Tate said.

On another occasion he allegedly abused Ms Bailey – when she was eight – while her mother was showering.

“On the prosecution case during this period of time the accused was abusing her, he also started to have her or make her watch pornography video tapes with him,” Mr Tate said.

“Along with those occasions of abuse that occurred in the family home you will hear the accused would also take her to the St Kilda playground and abuse her in the car.

“At this time it will be alleged he gave her cannabis and alcohol which became a regular occurrence through the course of their relationship.”

Mr Tate told the court Mr Brant allegedly told Ms Bailey that the abuse was a secret between the two of them.

“And if she told anyone he would go to jail and it would hurt her mother. He also told her that no one would believe her,” Mr Tate said.

The court heard Ms Bailey told her then husband about the alleged abuse before disclosing to her mother in 2019 and reporting it to the police.

The trial before a jury continues.

Originally published as Jeffrey Thomas Brant standing trial, accused of sexually abusing his stepdaughter Kylie Bailey