Child Protection Worker on Trial for Alleged Abuse of Teenager in South Australia

A child protection worker allegedly sexually abused a teenage boy with a mild intellectual disability while she was meant to be caring for him, and showered him with cash and gifts including pets and a PlayStation, a court has heard.

Hannah Joyce Neale, 31, is standing trial in South Australia's District Court after pleading not guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a child.

Opening the trial on Tuesday, prosecutor Rebecca Andersen told the court Ms Neale worked at a supported accommodation facility in suburban Adelaide, where she met the alleged victim, who was then aged 16.

The court heard she continued a "sexual and romantic relationship" with the boy for almost two years and past his 17th birthday.

Ms Andersen told Judge Ian Press, who is presiding over the trial without a jury, that Ms Neale began "maximising" her shifts at the accommodation facility and sometimes worked up to 12 shifts per fortnight.

She told the court Ms Neale and the teenager began communicating over various social media platforms and she began taking him on "long drives".

"It became the norm, that every shift the accused worked with the complainant, they would disappear from the house for the entire day, only returning when the accused's shift came to an end," Ms Andersen said.

"This was noted by a number of the other youth support workers who recognised this as unusual."

The court heard the offending began with an incident in a car and subsequently occurred at various locations.

"I expect that Your Honour will hear that sexual activity was frequent and frequently occurred in the accused's car at various locations, at the accused's home address … and at other houses and motels where the accused would take the complainant," Ms Andersen said.

She also told the court the alleged sexual relationship also occurred at locations where Ms Neale was house-sitting for friends.

Ms Andersen said Ms Neale also worked for Qantas at the time, and would allegedly take the teenager to Adelaide Airport during her shifts where the teenager "would regularly wait in her car in the staff car park".

"They would have sexual intercourse during her break and he would sleep in the car while he waited for her to complete that work," she said.

PlayStation and pets among gifts

Ms Andersen said that during the alleged offending, Ms Neale frequently paid for items for the teenager.

"Your Honour will hear that over the course of their relationship the accused provided substantial gifts and financial support to the complainant … she transferred large amounts of money to him," she said.

"The complainant also bought a number of other gifts … he was bought a PlayStation and gaming computer.

"Over the course of their relationship she frequently purchased food … and bought him pets..."

Ms Andersen said the court would also hear evidence about alleged "deliberate acts to conceal the relationship" including that the teenage boy would use a fake name for Ms Neale, and that she had introduced him to Qantas colleagues as a family member.

The court heard the alleged offending came to an end after the teenager was arrested for alleged violence against Ms Neale.

Ms Andersen said co-workers would be called to give evidence during the trial, and were expected to tell the court Ms Neale had behaved in an "inappropriate or unusual manner toward the complainant" which included hugging him or scratching him on the head.

She told the court that following complaints, Ms Neale was moved to another care home, while the teenager had also moved to a different residence but the alleged sexual activity continued.

Ms Andersen said Ms Neale had asked to continue being his carer, but she was sacked.

The court heard the teenager would give evidence, but due to the regularity of the sexual activity, would have difficulty recalling specific details and time frames.

The trial continues.