Counsellor Behind sex complaint against teacher
A teacher charged with the .sexual assault of two former
students told the court yesterday he
had a bad personal relationship with the counsellor who reported student complaints against him.
The teacher is on trial in Magistrates' Court for allegedly touching two female students on
the breasts. For legal reasons the teacher and the complaints in the case cannot be named. Yesterday
defence lawyer Richard Hector called the accused to the stand.
Earlier, a former student told the court she had been touched on, the breasts when her teacher had
grabbed a necklace she was wearing.
Another former student had told the court that in 1988 she was touched on the breast and
thigh by the teacher as she was sitting in his car.
The girl who claims she was assaulted in the teacher's car, said she did not report the
incident at the time and only spoke about it in detail after being
approached, last year, by the counsellor .During cross examination Mr, Hector suggested her
accusation against the man -made a number of years after she had finished school ~ was prompted
, by the counsellor only after she
: was told about other complaints , against the teacher.
Yesterday Mr. Hector asked his client about his 'own dealings ; with the counsellor.
"I did not have a relationship : of mutual respect with her," the teacher said.
"We had lively; if 'not fierce debates regarding our differences in philosophy and
in one case in front of other staff members she called me 'arrogant' and walked out,')
According to testimony, the counsellor fielded complaints from three students
which apparently led to the charges of sexual assault. Both the girl who says
she was 'wearing a necklace when she was assaulted and the teacher, have testified the three
students who made the complaints, had been disciplined by him more than once and had a strained
relationship with him.
Towards the end of yesterday's proceedings, a student taking private lessons from the defendant
and two of his colleagues took the stand. The woman taking private lessons at the teacher's
home described him as, "a perfect gentleman," and staff from the teachers school said he was an
effective teacher and firm disciplinarian.
Earlier, Crown Counsel Phillip Storr had asked the teacher about events leading up to his
lunch date with the girl who has accused him of assaulting her in his car.
According to the teacher the girl was, "outwardly flirtatious," calling him "sexy" and "darling"
when she saw him at school, "standing very close," when she sp'6ke to him, repeatedly asking
him to take her to lunch.
The teacher said he had taken her out to lunch' twice, and had once been "surprised" by a
telephone call from her made during school holidays.
According to the teacher, at the end of their second lunch there was a, "thank-you for
lunch, consensual embrace, which took place in the car before they returned to school.
He said he had taken students for lunch before, "it is not unprecedented, and frequently
occurs.
Mr. Storr asked the teacher if he thought his actions were, "the height" of folly. "In view of her
greeting you with 'Hi Sexy!' did you not think it dangerous to foster a relationship with this young
lady?"
Later Mr. Storr said, "Do you not consider it improper for a school master to embrace a
pupil?" "Yes," the teacher said, "I do. It was a lamentable
situation."
The case continues today.
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