The lawyer for a former South Australian police officer who indecently assaulted two women has called for him to avoid prison, arguing that it would not be a "safe place" for her client.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court is preparing to sentence Martin Duku, 24, who was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault while he was working his first job based at the Port Augusta Police Station in 2019.
The court heard Duku sexually assaulted one of the victims while in a car at a secluded location and on a separate occasion went to a victim's home uninvited late at night.
Duku's lawyer, Kathryn Waite, asked Magistrate John Wells to suspend her client's sentence, saying that he would require protection in jail after the recent alleged murder at Yatala Labour Prison.
"Not only is he young, but he's an ex-police officer who is a sexual offender now - who has mental health difficulties," Ms Waite said.
"If your honour has seen even from the alleged murder for the death in custody . that happened in protection.
"It couldn't be said that that's necessarily a safe place when one is surrounded by other prisoners with severe mental health issues."
Ms Waite told the court her client was caught up in what she described as the alcohol-fuelled party culture while working in the regional city.
"He was emotionally immature, particularly when it came to his interpersonal relationships and romantic relationships," Ms Waite said.
"It was a unique circumstance he was placed in . being out of home for the first time, working his first job in Port Augusta where he was also immersed in a drinking culture."
Ms Waite told the court there was a culture of binge drinking amongst his peers, where all socialising revolved around alcohol.
"There was a culture of binge drinking and what was described as marathon drinking sessions after 7-day- rotations - drinking for many hours after one has finished a night shift," she said.
The court heard a medical expert diagnosed Duku as suffering from alcohol abuse disorder during his offending.
Ms Waite added Duku was of Sudanese and Ugandan background and had experienced vicarious trauma hearing stories of violence and war through family members and friends.
The prosecutor, however, asked for an immediate term of imprisonment given two of the three counts were serious examples of the offending.
"The victims were vulnerable by reason of their isolation, in each case they offered verbal and physical resistance to the accused - and he repeatedly ignored that." the prosecutor said.
The maximum penalty for each count is eight years imprisonment.
"I would respectfully submit that imprisonment is the only appropriate penalty for these offences," he said.
Duku, who is on bail, will be sentenced next week.