Top Adelaide cheerleader now accused of sexually assaulting five girls as two more come forward

Two more girls have accused a top Adelaide cheerleader of assault – and prosecutors say she’s still competing around children, despite strict bail conditions.

A top Adelaide cheerleader now stands accused of sexually assaulting five teenagers, at sleepovers and practice sessions, after two more girls came forward this week.

The Adelaide Magistrates Court has also expressed concerns the women has “circumvented” her bail conditions by surrendering control of her club – but continuing to train and compete around hundreds of girls.

On Wednesday, Magistrate Simon Smart further tightened the woman’s bail conditions, effectively banning her from the sport until a verdict in her upcoming trial.

“The intention of those conditions was to put some distance between her and the opportunity to reoffend, by not exposing her to the opportunity to do so,” he said.

“Renouncing control of one’s cheerleading business occurs, to me, as a device to circumvent the bail conditions.”

The woman, 22, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of persistent sexual exploitation and four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse

Her identity cannot be published as it may tend to identify her alleged victims, whose privacy and anonymity are guaranteed under SA law.

The woman is known for her work with cheerleading teams that have competed around Australia and overseas.

Prosecutors allege the offending occurred between August 2015 and December 2017 in a suburb north of the city.

That alleged exploitation consisted of at least three sexual acts against female minors, including kissing and inappropriate touching of her body.

Prosecutors further allege the woman also showed her victims sexually inappropriate videos.

They have told the court those three girls are among 14 young people who have accused the woman of sexually inappropriate behaviour.

Nine of those complainants, they allege, have reported incidents involving the woman at times that predate her 18th birthday.

The woman has repeatedly maintained her innocence, saying the charges arise from a rivalry between two cheerleading clubs.

On Wednesday, prosecutor Rebecca Schell said the case had since increased in size again.

“We took affidavits from six witnesses yesterday, and will be filing additional charges in relation to two of them,” she said.

“The victims, of which there are now five in total, were all former students, colleagues or teammates of the accused who she knew through cheerleading.

“The alleged offending occurred in the context of sleepovers or, in some instances, at cheerleading practice.”

She said the alleged victims were concerned by the woman’s continued presence, as a competitor, at cheerleading meets and practices attended by children.

“She is not undertaking paid work, so it is not technically a breach of her bail, but she is still exposed to children … there’s a risk of reoffending,” she said.

Counsel for the woman insisted their client was abiding by her bail, but Mr Smart agreed it should be made more stringent.

He banned the woman from attending her former business, or any other cheerleading event, where people under the age of 18 were present “to address the risk of reoffending”.

The woman will face the District Court later this year, when a trial date will be set.

Originally published as Top Adelaide cheerleader now accused of sexually assaulting five girls as two more come forward