Former primary school teacher Clayton John Page said being caught with child exploitation material a ‘blessing’

A former teacher who was busted sending sexually explicit messages to young girls said being caught by police was a ‘blessing’, as his addiction spiralled.

A veteran teacher who was busted sending sexually explicit messages to who he thought was a fourteen year old girl says being caught by undercover anti-child exploitation cops was a “blessing”.

On Friday, the South Australian District Court heard former primary school teacher Clayton John Page would never teach again after pleading guilty to two counts of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity, and one count of possessing child exploitation material.

Appearing via audio visual link from the Mount Gambier Prison, Page sat silently as his lawyer told the court his early guilty plea should be evidence of his remorse.

Page was arrested by elite detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team in September last year after sending sexually explicit messages to who he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

That girl, however, turned out to be a covert police officer, and JACET detectives arrested Page after he had expressed interest in “meeting up”.

Former teacher Clayton Page pleaded guilty to child abuse crimes. Picture: Emma Brasier

His messages to the covert officer included asking if he could set “her” some “naughty homework,” and saying he could pretend to “be your uncle” if the pair met in person.

Following his arrest, examinations of his phone found Page had just a year prior, been communicating with an actual female child over social media app Kik, and had obtained child exploitation material in that conversation thread.

Andrew Ey, for Page, told Judge Nick Alexandrides his client should be given a “merciful” non-parole period because his early guilty pleas were an expression of his remorse.

“He has no prior criminal history, and he has a great desire to commence rehabilitation,” Mr Ey said.

“There is absolutely no suggestion of any contact with any students during his time as a teacher, so in my submissions he has done a lot for the community.”

According to his LinkedIn profile, Page had been teaching primary-aged students at schools including Waikerie Primary, Melaleuca Park Primary at Mount Gambier and Mark Oliphant College in Munno Para.

Mr Ey said a psychologist had evaluated Page, and came to the conclusion that he “does not meet the diagnostic criteria of a pedophile”, but rather indulged a sexual“fantasy” when conversing online.

“He has entertained and indulged in sexual fantasy role plays between older men and younger females. It is important though that this is not a man who is specifically targeting children. He has also engaged in lawful communications with adults.

“Mr Page sees it as a blessing that the offending was detected, he says his addiction had gotten out of hand.

Clayton Page has also pleaded guilty to communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity. Picture: LinkedIn

The court heard that since being transferred from custody in Yatala to Mount Gambier, Page had “drawn on his teaching skills” and was working with social workers in prison to help other inmates with their literacy and numeracy skills.

“Obviously upon his release, he will not be working with children, so his teaching career is over in that regard,” Mr Ey said.

Prosecutors told the court that police were unable to identify the victim from Pages offending in May 2022, and asked that he serve an immediate custodial sentence.

“It is clear he exploited the victims for his own sexual gratification,” the prosecutor said.

“He has a moderate to high risk of reoffending.”

Judge Alexandrides will sentence Page next month.