How Could You? Hall of Shame-Australia-Social Worker

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Newcastle, Australia, “a Hunter Department of Family and Community Services caseworker accused of repeatedly raping a foster child has denied the allegations and suggestions that he altered his penis to thwart a description provided by the girl.

Crown prosecutor Peter McGrath described to a Newcastle District Court jury on Tuesday how the accused came to know the girl through a relationship with her carer.

The foster mother reported to police a number of disclosures the girl made in November 2012 before detectives interviewed the child over two days.

During the interviews the girl described several incidents of rape and indecent assault at two locations in the Lake Macquarie area.

Mr McGrath said the girl appeared ‘‘bright’’, ‘‘articulate’’ and ‘‘intelligent’’ for her age during the interviews, but her narrative did not ‘‘flow seamlessly’’ from allegation to allegation and could be ‘‘somewhat confusing’’ to follow at times.

During the interviews the girl said the accused had two moles on his penis, which Mr McGrath said supported her contention that she saw the penis during some of the incidents.

When police photographed the accused’s penis about two months after he was charged, there were two lesions on it an expert will testify could be from rubbing, cutting or removing things.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to five counts of having sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 and three counts of indecent assault with his barrister Tom Quilter telling the jury that his client denies the allegations and the suggestion that he ‘‘interfered’’ with his penis.

Mr Quilter said his client was ‘‘shocked’’ when he was informed of the allegations.

The accused had a long history of being in the company of children and had never had an allegation of sexual abuse made against him, Mr Quilter said.

‘‘There’s no question that sexual abuse of children is horrible,’’ Mr Quilter said.

‘‘What is in issue in this case is whether or not these allegations can be made out beyond reasonable doubt.’’

The trial before Judge Michael King continues.”

Social worker pleads not guilty to raping foster child

[The Herald 8/5/14 by Stephen Ryan]

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