Primary schoolteacher Kerry Buranyi-Trevarton has jail sentence reduced by Court of Appeal for preying on students
A drunk Adelaide primary school teacher has had his jail sentenced reduced after he preyed on multiple students in an “appalling” breach of trust.
A primary school teacher has had a legal win after he preyed on multiple students, leaving one young girl feeling manipulated and abused.
Kerry Mark Field Buranyi-Trevarton, 44, was jailed for six years and five months last year after a judge slammed his actions as an “appalling” breach of trust.
However, he complained to the Court of Appeal that his sentence was manifestly excessive.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal, comprising Justice Sophie David and Auxiliary Justices David Lovell and Debra Mullins, agreed with him and reduced his sentence to five years and five months.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Buranyi-Trevarton was employed as a teacher at an Adelaide primary school where the victims attended.
After completing his employment at the school, Buranyi-Trevarton maintained contact with some of the students via Facebook Messenger.
The court heard Buranyi-Trevarton, who was married at the time, said he was drinking at least a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and half a carton of beer daily.
“You admitted that you had made a number of sexually suggestive and inappropriate comments to them (two of the victims), largely when inebriated,” Judge Joanne Tracey said.
“You say that you would never have taken those conversations further and denied any sexual interest in either child.
“You characterised your inappropriate sexualised communications with them as jovial, smart-arse and tongue in cheek comments.”
However, Judge Tracey said she rejected Buranyi-Trevarton’s explanations and found his interpretation of the messages to be “totally disingenuous and breathtakingly self-focused”.
The Aberfoyle Park father was found guilty of two counts of communicating with the intention of making a child amenable to sexual activity after a judge-alone trial.
The two victims were aged 11 and 12 at the time of the offending.
He also pleaded guilty to indecent assault, relating to a separate 13-year-old girl he inappropriately touched on the thigh.
The psychologist found Buranyi-Trevarton did not meet the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia but rather his capacity to make sound judgments was significantly compromised by his chronic use of alcohol.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal said Buranyi-Trevarton took advantage of the power imbalance in the teacher/student relationship, which had a significant impact on his victims.
“(Buranyi-Trevarton) breached his professional obligations, the victim’s trust and the trust that parents and the community place in teachers,” they said.
However, it was noted that Buranyi-Trevarton’s offending was not protracted, ceased without intervention and he hadn’t offended since 2016.
As a result, his sentence was reduced and he was also handed a new non-parole period of four years and four months.
The sentence was backdated to May 10, 2024.
