SA Catholic school worker Alun Rowe jailed for sexually abusing student

This man was once considered a “popular” school worker, but a court has heard the extent of his “gross” abuse of one female student.

• Sexual offenders named in one list

Catholic school worker Alun Rowe was once considered a “popular” laboratory manager, and was known to have students visit him at recess and lunch breaks.

But when a teenage girl spoke out about the sexual abuse she had suffered at his hands during her final years of schooling, police uncovered evidence of his years-long inappropriate relationship.

On Tuesday, Rowe, who appeared via video link from custody to the South Australian District Court, heard his once “platonic” friendship with the student became the start of an inappropriate affair when he slipped a hidden sticky note into a schoolbook.

The court heard the Wales-born 57-year-old used his authority and popularity to befriend and groom a 17-year-old student before sexually abusing her over a 12-month period.

“You commenced work (at the school) in 2011 as a maintenance officer, but were later promoted to the role of laboratory manager,” Judge Geraldine Davison said in sentencing.

Alun Rowe, a former Catholic school worker, leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: Newswire / Brenton Edwards

“During that period, you held a position of trust and authority. You engaged in a grossly inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable young girl who trusted you.

“You were known to be popular with students who came to your office after school or during recess and lunch. In your office you had a number of interesting animals and reptiles.

“The frequent occurrence of students did not cause concern for other teachers, as the walls were large glass windows and the door was usually open.”

Judge Davison said Rowe’s victim had met him when she was in Year 9, and had come to his office because she didn’t have many friends at the school.

She said Rowe initially began friendly communications with the student over his school email, which escalated when she attended formal in Year 11.

“You asked for a photograph of her from the event, and soon after this you began complimenting her on her looks and told her she was beautiful.

“On one occasion, she asked for a book. She took it home and inside the book was a sticky note with your personal email address. You then began corresponding on the private email.”

She said that despite the student telling him she didn’t want it to go any further, the offending “escalated” and he would take advantage of her at “any chance you could”.

Rowe has been jailed for at least three years for sexually abusing a student. Picture: Newswire / Brenton Edwards

“At some occasions you would remove her shirt and her skirt and kiss her,” Judge Davison said.

His offending then escalated further, and he attempted to engage in sexual intercourse with the student.

Rowe, 57, of Woodcroft, pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child – an offence now known as sexual abuse of a child.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing exploitation material.

Rowe abused his victim, who was under the age of 18, between 2019 and 2020 and was caught in possession of the exploitation material in 2023, following his arrest.

In her victim impact statement read to the court in June, the student said Rowe’s long-term manipulation of her anxiety, loneliness and affection had forever altered her life and stolen her future goals.

“I believed I was in love, that I had a very good friend who didn’t want to leave me, who was excited to see me every day, who genuinely cared about me,” she said.

Judge Davison said that since his offending, he had written the victim a letter of apology and had sought psychiatric help.

She said she accepted claims from a therapist who assessed Rowe that he was now at a lower risk of reoffending.

Rowe was sentenced to eight years, one month and 22 days in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and five months.

That sentence was backdated to his bail being revoked in March, meaning he will be eligible for parole in August, 2027.