Contract teacher Harrison John Auger bailed on child exploitation charges

Western suburbs contract teacher Harrison John Auger has been bailed on child exploitation charges.

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A western suburbs contract teacher who has been held in jail on remand on child-exploitation charges was granted bail in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Harrison John Auger, 24, was charged earlier this month with two counts of aggravated possession of child-exploitation material and one count of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child. Police allege the offences occurred between March 8 and July 16 this year.

Auger, of Findon, has been held in custody since his arrest on July 16.

In court on Thursday, Auger was granted home-detention bail under the strict condition he does not contact or communicate with any past students under 18.

Magistrate John Wells warned that any breach of the strict conditions would land Auger back in custody.

“These charges are very serious,” Mr Wells told Auger.

“You have been released on home-detention bail, which is the most detailed and onerous bail regime.

“If you disobey any of those conditions, it is inevitable that you will return to jail.”

Auger was bailed to his parents’ home in Victor Harbor.

His father was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2017 and has recently been suffering seizures, the court was told.

Home detention would allow Auger to help care for his father, his defence lawyer said.

At the time of Mr Auger’s arrest, the Education Department said he was a temporary employee.

A department spokesman said the teacher had worked at one school recently and the parents there were notified.

The case will return to the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court in January.