Intimate text messages and a handwritten letter between a prominent South Australian horse racing identity and the teenage girl he groomed have been detailed in court.
Kevin David Frew, 60, previously pleaded guilty to one count of communicating to procure a child for sexual activity.
The girl was aged 16 at the time of the offending in 2019, while Frew was aged 58.
The grandfather-of-two was jailed for two years and 11 months in the South Australian District Court on Thursday, with a non-parole period of 18 months.
During the hearing, Frew also pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his bail between November, 2019 and February, 2020 and September and November 2020.
The court heard he exchanged more than 200 text messages with the victim and had left written letters for her to collect at a prearranged location.
This was prohibited as part of his release conditions for an earlier offence that involved the victim and has since finalised.
Judge Emily Telfer read aloud some of the written exchanges in court.
In one, Frew joked about song lyrics “being 17” and “barely dressed” then commented on having gone on “a tour down under”.
He then explained the act of cunnilingus when the victim didn’t understand the reference.
In one of the handwritten letters, the horse trainer expressed his affection and desire for the pair to be together.
“The odds have bexjmtzywen against us since day dot,” the excerpt read.
“God will be happy when the day comes and we don’t have to sneak around and we will be so f**king happy.
“I love you and always will.”
While Judge Telfer said the man had prospects for rehabilitation, she said his actions were “persistent” and “manipulative”.
“Your conduct has robbed the victim of her relationship with a close and supportive family,” she said.
“The persistence of your contact with her, despite being arrested and bailed, and the content of your communication leads me to conclude that you had limited insight into the effect of your conduct.”
The court heard the teenager’s mother became concerned about her daughter’s relationship with the horse trainer and first reported it to police in October 2019, telling them she was seen drinking alcohol with Frew at the Murray Bridge Hotel.
A report was made to a horse racing steward and Frew was formally directed to avoid contact with the victim and risked losing his license if he disobeyed.
Two charges of supplying alcohol to a minor were subsequently laid against Frew — which he pleaded guilty to — and he was prohibited from contacting the victim under his bail agreement. He was fined and released without conviction on the charges.
“The involvement of the police and track stewards should have highlighted to you the very real concerns that were held … about the relationship with you and (the victim),” Judge Telfer said.
“It should have highlighted to you the inappropriateness of the path you had placed yourself on.”
Prior to the sentencing hearing, the victim's mother told the court Frew’s offending tore her family apart.
“(The victim) thought that what you were doing to her was normal and she does not see herself as a victim and never will,” she said.
