After-school worker denies abuse charges FOUR young girls were allegedly subjected to persistent sexual abuse over several years at the hands of an Adelaide after-school care worker, a court has heard. Mark Christopher Harvey, 42, was yesterday arraigned in the District Court in Adelaide for allegedly sexually assaulting the young girls between January 2007 and December 2011. Mr Harvey, a balding man with a distinct moustache and a small beard, denies committing the crimes. Three of the girls were five years old when the alleged offending began and the other was aged six. The court heard that Mr Harvey allegedly touched the chests and nipples of the girls, as well as putting their toes in his mouth. In the case of one girl, he allegedly touched his penis as he did so. In all but one case, the alleged abuse took place over at least a four-year period. All of the alleged offences took place in Largs Bay, in Adelaide's western suburbs. The man's court appearance came a fortnight after a royal commission into the Education Department's mishandling of child-abuse cases released its scathing findings. The inquiry was sparked by a two-year cover-up of a separate case of child abuse committed by an out-of-school-hours care worker. Yesterday, Mr Harvey remained silent when the details of the allegations against him were read to the court, only speaking to issue pleas of not guilty to each of the four charges of persistent sexual exploitation of a child. Mr Harvey is also alleged to have indecently assaulted a boy under the age of 14 between April 2009 and December 2011, to which he also pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said they would not specify further details about that charge, despite judge Paul Muscat asking for information regarding the age of the boy. A suppression order over Mr Harvey's name was allowed to lapse yesterday. Under South Australian law, a person charged with a sex crime automatically has their identity suppressed -- regardless of whether a victim can be identified should the accused's name be published. A court can rule to lift that suppression. Otherwise, it automatically expires if the person pleads guilty or is ordered to stand trial. Mr Harvey's case will return to court on August 14, when a trial date is expected to be determined.