Whyalla teacher Nathan Fenwick jailed for grooming child for sex

A cunning predator who met a teenage student in secret at school and sent him naked photos has sat hunched in the dock, blocking his ears, as he was jailed.

A Whyalla teacher groomed a young teenage student in a “cautious and deliberate” way by befriending him before exposing his sinister intentions.

Nathan Andrew Fenwick, 28, is now behind bars after a judge determined his autism diagnosis didn’t reduce his moral culpability.

During sentencing on Tuesday, the District Court heard Fenwick befriended the victim and offered to help him with his school work.

They exchanged messages outside school and Fenwick added him as a Facebook friend.

“The victim trusted you and looked on you as a kind of older brother,” Judge Timothy Heffernan said.

The court heard Fenwick would meet with the victim in secret at school and told him he loved him.

Fenwick’s devious behaviour progressed and he began sending the victim multiple naked photos of himself, the court heard.

“One time you suggested that there was plenty of room in your shower for both of you,” Judge Heffernan said.

Fenwick’s offending was exposed after the victim’s mother saw one of his messages.

Nathan Fenwick leaving the District Court after an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

Fenwick, of Whyalla, pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of communicating with a child to make them amenable to sex.

Victim impact statements were read to the District Court in March.

The victim’s father said Fenwick betrayed his son and damaged his family’s life in the “most despicable” way.

“You did this Nathan … like a thief in the night you preyed on (the victim) and took advantage of his naivety under the disguise of a friend and a teacher,” he said.

Tim Dibden, for Fenwick, previously said his autism diagnosis amounted to a “permanent infirmity” to reoffend and exempted him from mandatory prison time.

Fenwick who was dubbed as a “rocking, unhealthy shut-in” again sat in the dock hunched over, his hair covering his face and scrubbing his hands over his ears to block out the sound of court.

Nathan Fenwick was jailed for his “cautious and deliberate” grooming of a student. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

Nathan Fenwick appeared to hide behind his mother at an earlier court appearance Photo: Lucy Rutherford

The court heard he rarely leaves his room since being arrested and suffers from depression and anxiety.

However, Judge Heffernan said he wasn’t satisfied Fenwick’s autism reduced his moral culpability.

“Your offending was very premeditated and you groomed the victim in a cautious and deliberate way,” he said.

“Your conduct was a gross abuse of the trust given to you as secondary school teacher.”

Judge Heffernan sentenced Fenwick to one year and five months jail, with a non-parole period of six months.