Yorke Peninsula teacher Thomas Robert Ackland pleads not guilty to child sex offences

A former Yorke Peninsula teacher has been ordered to stand trial on multiple child sex offences spanning three years.

A former Yorke Peninsula teacher has been ordered to stand trial after pleading not guilty to 14 child sex charges.

Former Kadina Memorial School teacher Thomas Robert Ackland, 29, of Moonta Bay, was arrested and charged in March 2021.

He appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with multiple child sex offences including nine counts of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and five counts of communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity.

Through his lawyer, Patrick Dawes, he pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, which are alleged to have occurred on dates spanning three years.

Thomas Robert Ackland outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Thomas Robert Ackland has pleaded not guilty to multiple child sex offences. Picture: Facebook

Mr Ackland, who is on bail, arrived at court with two supporters.

Previously, in letters to families, Kadina Memorial School principal Alistair Williams said Mr Ackland “was not permitted to attend the school pending the outcome of the police investigation and prosecution”.

Mr Williams also urged parents of students at the reception to year 12 school with “any information that may assist the police investigation” to contact SA Police.

“You may have seen or heard media reporting of this matter and I confirm the teacher can be named as Mr Thomas Ackland,” he said in the letter.

“I understand this is distressing information.”

Mr Williams said he had sought permission from the Department of Education before distributing the letter last year.

Mr Ackland will next appear in the District Court, where he will be arraigned before a trial date is set, in April.