The shameful text messages former teacher Bettina Schmoock sent to a teenage boy asking for sex

FORMER Concordia College teacher Bettina Schmoock has been sentenced for pursuing a student for sex — now the lengthy series of text messages she sent him have been released by a court.

Bettina Schmoock, right, leaves court with a supporter after being sentenced. Picture: Morgan Sette/AAP

• The sentence: Ex-Concordia teacher spared jail but facing deportation
• She initially pleaded not guilty to grooming her teenage victim
• But later admitted attempting to engage the student in sexual activity
• Her victim said the offending left him ashamed and traumatised

IN the beginning, their relationship was wholly appropriate — a caring teacher reaching out to a vulnerable student who, she feared, was at risk of taking his own life.

But when the Concordia College student said he did not want to die a virgin, Bettina Schmoock’s empathy crossed the line into criminality.

In a series of text messages, released by the District Court on Monday, Schmoock began counselling the boy on matters of the heart — and edging him toward a sexual encounter.

“Masturbation is a completely normal and healthy part of one’s life,” she says in one of the earliest messages.

“I even thought of telling you to sleep with someone as it helps to get rid of aggro and tension, but then I realised you had probably not slept with anybody.

“You should not do it with a young, unexperienced girl, because she might need you to make love to her, not have sex.”

Bettina Schmoock leaves the District Court after being sentenced on Monday. Picture: Morgan Sette/AAP

As they continued communicating — against the orders of the school — Schmoock’s tone turned intimate.

“Off to bed now,” the German teacher told him one night.

“I’m urs in every which way, you can count on me ... ich hoffe, du hast einen ... schoenen Tag, ich ... vermisse dich soooo sehr.

“I will teach you, body and soul, best I can ... I told you I will be your friend, online at the moment and in secret if you need me physically.”

She repeatedly apologised for having to disguise the nature of their supposedly mutual feelings, even as she booked a cottage for a rendezvous.

“I’m truly sorry to have to ask secrecy of you but I must assure my children’s future,” she said.

She said she would be “willing to do that”, meaning have sex, for his sake and that intimacy would not be compulsory but would be for his sake, not hers.

The boy, however, declined her invitation and chose instead to start a relationship with a girl his own age — a decision Schmoock took poorly.

“I’m so amazing (sic) you threw your virginity away like this, wow,” she responded.

“You must have been so very desperate ... I just hope you managed to use a condom as no one likes STDs.

“I forgive you your poor choice of first-time sex. I hope you got something out of it, at least.”

When he elected not to resume their covert conversations, Schmoock’s tone turned sour.

“I will always care for you as you taught me to love again ... it’s okay, I’m a big girl and you sleeping with a non-random made that abundantly clear,” she said.

“I loved you from the bottom of my heart and you pushed me away ... I’m so sorry I’m not 20 and single ... believe me, I’m actually quite busy and desirable.”

Even as she pursued him, secrecy remained at the forefront of her mind.

“There’s two ways this can go. 1) Nowhere. 2) Everywhere. You just need to keep your mouth shut,” she said.

“I’m not going to beg ... if you are man enough to take me on, do it now.”

It was at that time the boy told his parents, the school and police — and Schmoock was arrested.

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