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A woman who was sexually abused by a controlling cult leader when she was a child has described how he "brainwashed, belittled and isolated" her.

Key points:

• A victim impact statement was read to the District Court
• The court heard how the victim felt like a "piece of meat" to the cult leader
• Prosecutor Patrick Hill said Salerno had cultivated a position where no-one would question him

In May, James Gino Salerno, 72, was found guilty of eight counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.

The District Court trial heard Salerno was known as "Taipan" to his followers and operated the cult from a historic mansion in the Adelaide Hills before the group relocated to Queensland and Western Australia.

		told from a young age that humans were only on Earth to "serve Taipan"

The court previously heard the cult was based on his desire to create "the ideal human environment".

The court had also heard women were submissive to men and had to tend to Salerno and members would be physically punished for not obeying orders.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by the prosecutor, the woman detailed how the crimes had destroyed her childhood and continued to impact her mental health.

terrible and traumatic tunnel

"I felt like I was only ever a piece of meat for Taipan to use when and where he wanted," the victim said.

"I feel ashamed, upset and hurt that I let Taipan treat me like I was nothing and that I didn't have the courage to stand up to him sooner."

She spoke of feeling suicidal and like she "couldn't see the light at the end of this terrible and traumatic tunnel".

"I felt like I was being brainwashed, belittled and isolated," she said.

"I felt so violated and damaged, like my dignity and innocence had been stolen from me."

The victim said she was told from a young age that humans were only on Earth to "serve Taipan" and she should feel "honoured" that she had been "chosen to serve him".

everyone was too scared

"I felt like everyone was too scared and fearful of Taipan to do anything to help me," she said.

"I felt alone for a long time."

She said the "laws" Salerno had created, including not allowing children to show attachment or affection to immediate family members, made her feel "upset, sad, hurt and isolated" and allowed Salerno to continue to abuse her.

"He made me feel worthless, like no-one cared about me, and that I was alone.

"This cycle of mental torture has continued since. I felt like I had no-one to talk to and that no-one could understand what I was put through during my childhood whilst I was living in the cult." Salerno 'installed himself as group's feared leader'

Prosecutor Patrick Hill said Salerno had abused his position within the cult in the worst possible way and had taken advantage of the victim through "calculated grooming".

"The prisoner in this case installed himself as this group's feared leader and he effectively took on parental responsibility for all of their children," Mr Hill said.

He was ultimately in charge

"He was ultimately in charge of and responsible for the victim, he cultivated a position where no-one, including her parents, could or would question him.

"In these extraordinary circumstances the nature and extent of the breach of trust in this case is difficult to fathom."

Salerno's lawyer David Edwardson QC told the court his client suffered poor health, having recently had surgery for kidney stones, and would find his time in jail difficult.

"Because of his age, because of his ongoing issues, he is going to have significant problems in custody and therefore his time to be served will be much harder on him than a more youthful prisoner," Mr Edwardson said.

The court heard Salerno had spent time in the Australian armed forces, including in Vietnam.

his client had done lots of work in the community

Mr Edwardson told the court his client had done lots of work in the community, including in remote Aboriginal communities, and was highly regarded by those who had seen "the hard work this man has done to look after and advance so many people who are underprivileged".

The defence provided a group of character references to the court from people in support of Salerno.

"These people are prepared to stand by him and regard this offending for which he has been found guilty to be completely out of character," Mr Edwardson said.

court needed to punish him for his crimes

The prosecutor said only limited weight could be given to the references and Salerno's health issues because the court needed to punish him for his crimes and deter others from abusing children.

Salerno remains in custody and will be sentenced later this month.