'Handler', 55, in sexual relationship with teenage girl sport star protege AN elite teenage Australian athlete and national title holder was sexually preyed upon by a "handler" who was meant to be taking care of her during overseas sporting tournaments, a court has been told. A Brisbane District Court jury has heard the 55-year-old handler's romantic and sexual relationship with his young protege - at the time aged between 15 and 17 - was only revealed after the discovery of 171 pages of intimate messages swapped via Facebook by the girl's parents. Prosecutor Philip McCarthy said the Crown alleges the man committed 12 sex crimes under Australian Federal laws preventing any adult in engaging in sexual activity with a young person - aged under 18 - while in their care while abroad. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the complaint's identity, on Monday pleaded not guilty to eight counts of having sexual intercourse with a person over 16 years, but under 18, outside of Australia when in a position of trust or authority. He also pleaded not guilty to four additional accounts of engaging in sexual activity not involving intercourse. Mr McCarthy said it was alleged the man, who he described as the girl's "handler," committed the offences during trips to top-level sports tournaments in New Zealand in late 2012 and early 2013. He said the man commenced a romantic relationship with his young charge after convincing her parents he had the ability to fulfill the girl's dream of becoming the world's leading athlete in her chosen sport when she was only 14. The jury was told that, true to his word, the handler did much to boost his young sporting charge's burgeoning international sporting career - which included her winning an Australian national title. However, Mr McCarthy said the pair's relationship soon became intimate and the man began enticing his protege into acts of a sexual nature. He said during one trip to New Zealand, the man had sexual intercourse with the girl - her first time - not long after presenting her with a gift of a purple vibrator, which he encouraged her to use for relaxation. The jury was told the man also plied the teenager with alcohol before one sexual encounter, and on another tied her to a bed before forcing her to perform oral sex - an act after which the girl contemplated harming herself. Mr McCarthy said a police investigation was triggered after the girl's parents discovered Facebook messages in which their daughter confided the sexual relationship to a friend. The proposed five-day trial before Judge Brad Farr continues.