But the alleged victim has admitted she sought Stevie Mambor's attentions in order to fund her drug habit, and acknowledged she told lies when convenient.

The 58-year-old West Papuan-born man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of having sexual intercourse with a person younger than 16 in March last year.

He also denies charges of producing and possessing child pornography - charges stemming from images of the girl alleged found on his phone. Mambor's legal team argued their client was unaware of the girl's age, and broke off any contact as soon as he learnt the truth.

But the alleged victim, who was just 15 at the time, said Mambor continued to have sex with her after he became aware of her real age.

In an interview with police played to the jury on Tuesday the girl said she went to Mambor's Allawah Court flat to score drugs. '' I was just desperate, I needed some cones [cannabis],'' the girl said.

She said she offered to have sex with Mambor, who she previously told she was 18, in exchange for cannabis and money, and he agreed.

The ACT Supreme Court heard the pair continued seeing each other, having sex in exchange for cash and cannabis. The teenager told police and the court Mambor would often rebuke her about the need to go back to school or to give up drugs, and would sometimes ''cut her off'' from cannabis.

Under cross-examination from defence barrister John Purnell, SC, she agreed Mambor encouraged her to return to school, taught her music, cleaned her clothes, bought her things and urged her to stay out of trouble with police.

''You were using Stevie Mambor to get money off him so you could fund, that is pay for, a drug habit?'' Mr Purnell asked.

''Yes,'' the witness replied.

The trial before Justice John Burns continues today.