‘I just didn’t care anymore’: Victim of historical sex abuse tells court of its impact on her life

A woman who was abused by an older man while she was in her early teens has told a court the perpetrator is “cruel” to continue to deny the offending.

Trevor Pope, 76, was found guilty of historical unlawful sexual intercourse with the victim.

During the trial, South Australia’s District Court heard Pope gave the victim alcohol prior to the offending and paid her $50 afterwards, telling her not to tell anyone.

That woman – who was aged 13 or 14 when the offence was committed – told the court of the profound impact the offending had on her.

“My future was ruined just like that,” she said.

“Because of what you did, I found I became impulsive and callous, my behaviour changed, I just didn’t care anymore.”

Despite the offending occurring more than a decade ago, she said she had to come forward and report the crime which “replayed in her head” to police.

Pope successfully appealed his conviction in 2019 and was retried this year.

He was found guilty earlier this year.

“I hate that you keep putting me through it.

“What you have put me through for all this time is really cruel; I’m looking for justice so I can heal from this.

“No matter how deep I try to dig, I can’t find it inside to forgive you; I hate everything you have done to me and put me through.”

Pope is wife’s ‘primary carer’, court hears

In a sentencing hearing in the District Court, the defence said Pope’s health, and that of his wife had deteriorated “with the passage of time”.

Pope’s lawyer also noted he was his wife’s primary carer, and she had a condition in which she passed out regularly.

They said it would be “difficult” to manage Mr Pope’s own health issues, including high blood pressure and gout in prison.

His defence also highlighted the “age” of the allegations, as well as their “isolated nature”, in a plea for leniency in sentencing.

Given Pope has already spent time in prison, his defence said he was “terrified” at the prospect of returning.

Pope will be sentenced by Judge Timothy Heffernan in February next year.