A GIRL who was sexually abused by a senior police officer she met at a Blue Light Disco has faced him in court and told how his actions have quashed her dreams of joining the force.

Dale Knoote-Parke, 51, has pleaded guilty to four counts of having unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl, then aged 16, at Thebarton, Redwood Park and Salisbury East between July and August last year.

In her victim impact statement read to the District Court today, the girl said she feared the incident had quashed her once-held dreams of becoming a police officer.

“My view of the world has changed and I find it hard to trust anyone,” she said.

“I find it very hard to trust police and people in power.”

The girl said she was forced to change schools because she was bullied and became isolated by her peers after they found out about Knoote-Parkes’s crimes against her.

“I also feel abused and I feel angry. I feel angry because I should never have been thought of in a sexual way — I should never have been placed in that situation,” she said.

She told the court she had met Knoote-Parke, who had worked in one of the most sensitive areas of SAPOL, at a Blue Light Disco.

“During the incident I felt anxious and sick knowing I had to keep it a secret,” she said.

“Although I’m a victim, I have a feeling of guilt and a need to apologise but through counselling that feeling is starting to go away.

“One fear I have for the future is because of this it will affect my chances of getting into the police force which is the career I have been aiming for.”

As exclusively revealed by the Sunday Mail in August last year, Knoote-Parke was arrested and charged following inquiries by the Special Crimes Investigation Branch.

Knoote-Parke was initially suspended on full pay after his arrest and later resigned from SA Police.

He was also involved with non-outlaw motorcycle clubs and charity toy runs for children.

Knoote-Parke will face further sentencing submissions next week.