A schoolgirl who was sexually assaulted by her martial arts instructor confronted him in a secretly recorded phone call, where he manipulated her and claimed to be "falling" for her.
Aaron Smalley, 29, first met the girl when she was just 10 years old, Melbourne's County Court heard on Tuesday.
After talking to her mother, she decided to enrol at the martial arts academy that Smalley worked at.
Smalley began sexually assaulting the girl when she was 15, first in the back of his car after they spent the weekend setting up a stall for a fitness exhibition.
On another occasion, Smalley suggested they play Pokemon but make it into a strip game to "make it more interesting", prosecutor Charlotte Duckett told the court.
After she turned 16, he began having sex with the girl. Much of the offending took place in secret locations, including a back room of the martial arts venue and at his mother's house.
She reported Smalley to police in March 2021 and then questioned him in a secretly recorded phone call that was played to court.
The girl told Smalley she had developed Tourette syndrome, which her psychiatrist said was a trauma response.
"It's almost like I got groomed or something by somebody called Aaron," she said.
Smalley tried to manipulate her, telling her he was sorry for what he did and that he tried to take his own life.
"I felt like I was blinded because I really, really do feel like I was falling for you," he told her.
He also asked if he was being recorded and "am I going to prison or what's going on?"
Ms Duckett said Smalley was deliberately manipulative during the recorded call.
"For this offender to be on the phone trying to deflect an answer to the question whether or not he knew she was 16, is somewhat illusive and in my submission is also deceptive," she said.
Smalley, who has pleaded guilty to 13 charges including sexual assault of a child aged under 16 and penetration of a child aged 16 under his care, supervision or authority, was supported in court by his family.
His lawyer Peter Morrissey SC said Smalley was "desire driven" and knew he was in a position of power and significant trust as he was her friend, mentor and teacher.
But he said Smalley was highly remorseful, had good rehabilitative prospects and has accepted he will serve a term of imprisonment.
"The clang of the prison gates is very applicable here," Mr Morrissey said.
Smalley was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
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