Qantas worker and former South Australian government contractor Hannah Neale fronts court after being charged with child sex offences
- Woman, 29, charged with sexually abusing teenager
- Alleged to be 'effectively living with him' while working for child protection
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A Qantas employee and contractor for the SA Department of Child Protection has been accused of sexually abusing a child for 18 months.
Adelaide woman Hannah Neale, 29, broke down in tears in Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday following her arrest in June and indicated she would fight the charges.
It is alleged Ms Neale sexually abused the teenage boy from December 2021 until July last year while employed as a residential carer for a partner organisation working with the government department.
During the period of her alleged offending she was effectively living with the 16-year-old boy who was under the guardianship of the minister, reported 7 News.
In her first court appearance she asked for her bail conditions to be varied to allow her within 500m of a school and to communicate with people under the age of 18 for her second job at the airport.
The court heard Ms Neale, from Evanston in the city's north-east, has no previous criminal history.
Her defence lawyer Tony Kerin said she has been employed with Qantas for a number of years and the company wanted to know if she could continue to work while the matter is before the court.
'It's quite clear from (that letter) she stands in high regard,' Mr Kerin said, as reported by The Adelaide Advertiser.
Qantas worker Hannah Neale outside Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday
'There was a period when she had difficulty and they supported her through that and the employer requires more latitudinal information to be able to do that again.'
In arguing for the bail conditions, he said there was no risk to the community as the alleged offending was in a 'very restricted' setting.
The police prosecutor argued against the variations because of the seriousness of the charges.
However, magistrate David White granted the request which will allow her to continue to work at the airport, which is 400m from a school.
Ms Neale is alleged to have sexually abused a 16-year-old boy while working as a contractor for the Department of Child Protection in SA
Ms Neale is charged with sexually abusing a child.
Her bail was continued and she walked from court ahead of her next appearance in November.
If the case proceeds to trial, the seriousness of the charge will require it to be heard in the District Court.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas and the Department of Child Protection for comment.
