Dance teacher Nigel Major-Henderson spared jail after admitting to grooming two teenage students

A dance teacher who preyed on two former students, including asking one if she was “hungry for a root”, has learnt his fate.

A dance teacher who preyed on former students by sending them sexualised messages avoided jail by the “narrowest of margins”, a court heard.

Nigel Major-Henderson, 36, learnt his fate after he exploited his relationship with the young teenage girls and left them feeling violated.

During sentencing on Wednesday, the District Court heard Major-Henderson met the victims while he was a dance teacher and later started Facebook communications with them.

Major-Henderson preyed on his victims several years ago.

Nigel Major-Henderson, a former dance teacher, was sentenced to a good behaviour bond for sending sexualised messages to female students. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Major-Henderson pleaded guilty to four counts of communicating to procure a child for sexual activity. Photo: Facebook

The court heard Major-Henderson asked one of the victims if they were “hungry for a root” and brought up sexual matters, including asking about the victim’s breasts as well as masturbation and fantasies.

Major-Henderson, of Elizabeth South, pleaded guilty to four counts of communicating to procure a child for sexual activity.

Judge Kris Handshin said the messages made the victims feel uncomfortable and violated, with one victim saying Major-Henderson had taken advantage of her youth and naivety.

“The messages you sent to (the victims) … were offensive, intrusive and obviously inappropriate,” he said.

Martin Kirby, for Major-Henderson, previously told the court his client was bullied his whole life for his love of dance and developed friendships with people who shared the same passion.

“Mr Major-Henderson has not only now lost the ability to engage in his one true passion, which was teaching dance, he will never be able to return to that,” he said.

Mr Kirby said Major-Henderson couldn’t remember the offending occurring and was quite disturbed and uncomfortable reading the messages.

The court heard nothing was found on Major-Henderson’s devices to show he had an interest in children and he didn’t meet the diagnostic criteria for a pedophilic disorder.

Despite prosecution pushing for immediate jail, Judge Handshin sentenced Major-Henderson to a good behaviour bond, the only other sentencing option available.

He said he had determined the sentence by the “narrowest of margins”, based on factors including that Major-Henderson was the carer for his wheelchair bound mother, his remorse and good prospects of rehabilitation.