Chris Dawson guilty of sexually abusing former student in the 1980s

The court heard the disgraced former schoolteacher  became obsessed with his teenage victim when he got his hands on a topless photo of the girl.

Convicted wife killer Chris Dawson has been found guilty of sexually abusing a teenager he referred to as “beautiful” and said he wanted to marry.

The disgraced former footy player and sports teacher faced a judge-only trial for a charge of carnal knowledge of a girl by a teacher - a historical sexual charge dating back to the early 1980s.

Mr Dawson’s previous trial for the murder of his wife Lynette captured the public’s interest after a popular podcast covered the allegations against him.

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He was found guilty of Lynne’s murder, and was sentenced to 24 years in jail.

He has now been found guilty of sexually abusing his student after allegations he began a relationship with the teenager while he was a teacher at Cromer High School in 1980.

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Chris Dawson, pictured during his murder trial, has been found guilty of sexually abusing a former student. Source: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Victim sat on Dawson's lap in his office

News.com.au reports Judge Sarah Huggett said on the basis of the complainant’s evidence, she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he committed the offence of carnal knowledge.

She noted Dawson had sent the girl a Christmas card in 1980 which read: “Happy Christmas. Once or twice every minute. Love always. God” and said the timing of that card was “completely inconsistent” with a romantic relationship only beginning to develop.

The court heard Dawson referred to himself as “God” to disguise their relationship.

Judge Huggett also referenced the evidence of a friend of the victim who told the court Dawson had shoved and threatened him when he asked her out on a date in 1980.

Other evidence relied upon was “the fact (Dawson) told her she was beautiful in year 11; the fact she was sitting on his lap in his office in year 11; the fact she was standing between his legs in his office in year 11; the fact that towards the end of year 11 the accused stated he loved the complainant and wanted to marry her”.

Those accounts of intimacy in Dawson’s office were relayed by several witnesses.

RELATED: Chris Dawson found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette 40 years ago

Chris and Lynette Dawson before her disappearance in 1982. Picture: Troy Bendeich

"I hope this helps in her healing"

News.com.au reports Lynette’s nephew, David Jenkins, told reporters outside of court he hoped the outcome would help the teenager “in her healing and to get through what she’s had to go through all these years”.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Huggett conceded parts of the victim’s evidence were “unreliable ... confused and at times contradictory,” but she did “not find she was deliberately dishonest”.

“The complainant has consistently denied that the relationship did not occur until 1981 or after the 1980 school year ended,” Judge Huggett said in court.

Throughout the trial, Dawson’s defence lawyer Claire Wasley did not deny the sexual relationship, but argued it did not begin while the girl was Dawson’s year 11 sports student.

But the victim told the court Dawson had his eye from the moment he got his hands on a topless photo of her that had been passed around school and became infatuated.

She said he “jostled” with another teacher to have her in his year 11 sports class.

RELATED: Chilling way Chris Dawson signed love letters to his teenage babysitter

Dawson with his twin brother Paul during his time as a teacher.

Dawson allegedly attacked student for asking victim on a date

Once she was in her class, she told the court he began paying her immense attention, leaving her “hundreds” of notes outside class and comforting her about her difficult home life.

The court heard allegations Dawson first abused the girl in his parent’s bed in Maroubra in August or September 1980 while the parents were away.

Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard submitted the sexual activity continued in his school office, “behind closed doors” during fitness classes run by Dawson and his twin brother, Paul, and eventually in Dawson’s own home.

The victim said he once wrote “pleasure to teach” on her school report card as a “cunning” reference to their sexual activity — evidence Judge Huggett accepted as truthful.

The trial also heard evidence from a former school friend of the victim, who said the student would go missing during lunch and recess in year 11 and eventually stopped attending out-of-school social events.

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Sketch of Dawson in court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Vincent de Gouw

"I don't make things up"

But Ms Wasley argued nothing sexual happened between the victim and Dawson until she was in year 12 and was no longer his student.

“I suggest that’s something you made up in the witness box just now,” Ms Wasley said, in regards to exactly when the sexual activity first took place.

In response, the victim broke down.

“I don’t make things up,” she said through tears.

“This happened to me and I’m so sick of this, having to justify everything I say … I know it’s just your job, but this is my life, and this happened to me, and I want something done about it”.

Dawson will next face court for sentencing on September 18.

Originally published as Chris Dawson guilty of sexually abusing former student in the 1980s