Adelaide’s St Peter’s College settles lawsuit, filed by ex-student, alleging he was sexually abused by teacher in classroom in 1990s

The most expensive school in Adelaide has avoided a civil trial in the Victorian courts.

An elite private school failed to stop a teacher repeatedly sexually abusing a boy – in one of its classrooms, and during lesson time – in the 1990s, a court has heard.

The Advertiser can reveal St Peter’s College has settled a lawsuit filed against it, in the Victorian Supreme Court, by a former student alleging negligence and vicarious liability.

In his lawsuit, the former student – referred to by the pseudonym “Jonathon” in court – alleged the school failed in its duty of care to him.

Jonathon alleged he was abused “numerous times” by a teacher at his desk at the back of his classroom.

He alleged he had suffered psychiatric injury as a result of the teacher touching and squeezing him and having him “read aloud a sex scene from a book”.

The teacher, he alleged, would tell Jonathon he “loved him” and that he was “a very special boy” – all while he was supposed to be “performing his duties as a class teacher”.

St Peter’s College has settled a lawsuit, out of court, that alleged it had been negligent over child sexual abuse on its campus.

“At the time Jonathon was abused, he was a vulnerable child,” his lawsuit alleged.

“St Peter’s placed (the teacher) in a position of power, authority, trust and intimacy with respect to Jonathon, who was vulnerable to the abuse of such authority, power, trust and intimacy.

“(The teacher) relied upon, took advantage of and exploited the relationship of authority, power, trust and intimacy which St Peter’s invested in him to sexually abuse Jonathon on the school premises.

“(He) abused his relationship of trust, power and intimacy for his sexual gratification.”

St Peter’s is the most expensive campus to attend in Adelaide, costing $32,910 to put a teen through Year 12 in 2025 – up 5.5 per cent on 2024’s fee.

The former student was given the pseudonym “Jonathon” by the court. Picture: Generic

In his lawsuit, released to The Advertiser by the court, Jonathon alleged the teacher’s duties at St Peter’s included “one-on-one teaching” and “supervision” of students.

The teacher’s desk, he alleged, was “located in the back corner of his classroom” with “the children’s desks in front of him, facing toward the blackboard”.

“On numerous occasions, (the teacher) sexually abused Jonathon in the classroom,” the lawsuit alleged.

“On each occasion of sexual abuse, (the teacher) would call Jonathon to attend upon him at his desk at the back of the classroom.”

Jonathon’s lawsuit alleges multiple acts of physical, verbal and emotional sexual abuse, including the teacher showing him “a hole in his pocket he used to masturbate”.

“Each of the acts of sexual abuse occurred whilst (the teacher) was performing his duties as a class teacher,” the document alleged.

That, the document alleged, meant St Peter’s had been negligent and was therefore vicariously liable for the teacher’s actions.

The lawsuit was filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Picture: AAP/Mal Fairclough

“St Peter’s College knew that there was a risk of sexual abuse at the school, that the risk was not insignificant and, if a child was sexually abused, they might suffer injury,” it alleged.

“The college failed to initiate and maintain an adequate system to protect Jonathon from the risk of sexual abuse while he was under its care, control and supervision.

“(The teacher) owed Jonathon a duty of care, which included a duty not to sexually abuse him … a reasonable person in the position of (the teacher) would not have sexually abused Jonathon.”

Jonathon had asked the court to award him damages, as well as aggravated and exemplary damages, for pain and suffering, economic loss and medical treatment.

In its defence papers, St Peter’s said it did “not plead” to the bulk of Jonathon’s allegations and denied others.

However, it claimed Jonathon “did not report any previous experience of emotional trauma” during prior psychiatric appointments.

It further claimed Jonathon “did not recall his experience of the alleged sexual abuse by (the teacher) until April 2020”.

In a statement to The Advertiser, St Peter’s headmaster Tim Browning said the school was “aware of proceedings related to a case of historical abuse, which occurred 30 years ago”.

“The nature of the allegations, like any form of abuse, are abhorrent and we commend the courage of the individual who brought them to our attention,” he said.

“We do not deem it appropriate to further discuss publicly this sensitive matter, particularly where doing so may be detrimental to the wellbeing of those involved.

“The school maintains an unwavering commitment to uphold child safety principles through a range of policies and processes.”