The mother of a teenage stable worker who was preyed on by a prominent South Australian horse trainer has told the District Court the crime has "skewed the course" of her daughter's life.
Murray Bridge horse trainer Kevin David Frew is facing sentencing in the District Court for procuring a 16-year-old girl for sex.
The 60-year-old pleaded guilty to a single charge one week before his trial was set to start in January.
In a tearful statement to Judge Emily Telfer, the victim's mother said her daughter was preyed upon in an "insidious nature" during such a vulnerable stage of her life.
"She is a beautiful, talented and fun-loving girl who was obsessed with horses as many young girls are," she told the court.
"Although extremely intelligent, she has always experienced challenges with forming and maintaining friendships.
"She struggled to understand how normal relationships worked.
She said Frew manipulated her daughter and she felt "repulsed" when reading the text messages that Frew sent her daughter.
"She may be 19 now but she was a young, naive schoolgirl when the offending commenced. It has all but destroyed a portion of my family," she said.
"It has skewed the course of her life during such vulnerable and informative years.
"I feel terrible guilt in my parenting ability in that I should have taught her better life skills. I now constantly question whether I have done enough for all of my children."
The court heard Racing SA revoked Frew's horse training licence when he was arrested, and he was banned from attending racetracks but still has support from many within the industry.
The victim's mother — who has also been heavily involved in horse racing — told the court she no longer can attend races and now resents the industry as many did not believe her concerns.
Frew a larrikin who 'lacks maturity'
Martin Anders, for Frew, told the court that his client was remorseful and told a psychologist that the offending should never have occurred.
"He's a hardworking, caring man who is somewhat of a larrikin and lacks maturity," he said.
He said working in the horse racing industry was not just a job but a "way of life" for Frew, who had ambitions to return to training if he is able to after his release from jail.
Mr Anders described the single text message as "grossly inappropriate".
But prosecutor Isabelle Kimber said the court needed to take into account the "uncharged acts" that relate to other "sexualised" text messages Frew sent the girl.
The court heard Frew also breached his bail on two occasions by communicating with the victim after he had been charged.
Ms Kimber told the court that it showed Frew was "persistent" and had a lack of insight into the seriousness of his offending.
Judge Telfer revoked Frew's bail and he will be sentenced next month.
