A well-respected and senior South Australian cheerleader "controlled and manipulated" a younger athlete during her alleged sexual abuse of the girl, a District Court trial has heard.
The woman has pleaded not guilty to seven offences and is now facing trial before Judge Joana Fuller.
She is accused of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with three girls and indecently assaulting a further four girls from the cheerleading club between 2015 and 2017.
In his opening address, prosecutor Paul Tate told the trial the accused had a secret sexual relationship with a girl almost two years younger than her until they broke up in August 2016.
"On the prosecution case, [the relationship] became more abusive and controlling," he said.
"Your Honour will hear evidence about the arguments and fights the two would have and what the prosecution alleges are incidents of control and manipulation towards the complainant by the accused.
"The relationship was not spoken about openly — in that, it wasn't something that was known within the wider club community."
Police informed after US trip, court told
The court heard that the accused sent semi-naked photos and exposed herself to another younger girl at the club and grabbed the breasts of another over her bathers.
Mr Tate told the court that the senior cheerleader commented on the size of three girls' breasts while grabbing them.
"This type of touching was not isolated," Mr Tate said.
"On the prosecution case, the touching and comments allegedly made by the accused are not standard or everyday occurrences within the sport of cheerleading.
"This conduct or these comments cannot be chalked up to touching or comments you would expect to see as part of the team camaraderie within a sporting environment."
Mr Tate said that in 2020, the club went to Palm Springs in the United States for a cheerleading competition and discussions were had between the girls about the accused.
He said on their return to Adelaide, the girls reported the matters to police, leading to the accused being charged.
"There will be a number of people called to give evidence about, on the prosecution case, the accused's standing and reputation within the cheerleading club, which played a role in how she was able to commit the alleged offending," Mr Tate said.
Jane Abbey SC, for the accused, did not provide an opening address. The trial continues.
