Central Queensland high school teacher jailed for indecent treatment of daughter

A teacher – who handed himself into police – played disgusting games with his daughter, forcing her to act like a ‘mummy’ and a ‘girlfriend. Warning: Disturbing content.

A Central Queensland high school teacher breached his young daughter’s trust when he preyed upon her during a game of “mummy and baby”. Warning: Graphic content

A former Central Queensland high school teacher has been jailed for 10 offences where he procured his young daughter to engage in sexual acts.

The Lutwyche man in his 30s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, first met his biological daughter when she was six-years-old after a positive paternity test.

Maroochydore District Court heard how the teacher came to care for the daughter and offended against her when she was between six to nine-years-old.

Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said the conduct began when the father told his daughter he “needed a girlfriend” and kissed her before they had a bath where games were played and sex acts were performed.

The court heard the father also forced his daughter to perform other acts on him during a game of “mummy and baby” and that the offending had taken place over a period of three years.

Ms O’Rourke said the father came forward to police on August 11, 2021, at the Coolum station and admitted to offending against his daughter.

“When he did so, he in a way minimised his conduct, for a number of those offences the defendant made out his daughter was the instigator of the sexual conduct,” Ms O’Rourke told the court.

“During his interview he still maintained that despite what he had done to her he was a fantastic carer.”

Judge Paul Smith said the father’s actions would have had a clear impact on his daughter.

“This was a gross breach of trust, she was a very young child,” Judge Smith said.

Defence barrister Mark Dixon told the court when the teacher found out about his biological daughter, his seven-year relationship ended.

“He took that break up very hard, he then had the care of his new daughter and it’s in that context that the offending occurs,” Mr Dixon said.

Mr Dixon said the teacher was an individual who since his younger years had struggled with mental health issues, cannabis use, methamphetamine use and had been diagnosed with a schizotypal personality disorder.

“Common traits include not understanding how relationships work, having trust issues with others, holding peculiar beliefs, having difficulty with social cues,” he told the court.

“Upon losing his relationship he acts in a way that is completely unacceptable and out of character.”

Mr Dixon said there didn’t appear to be any previous attraction to children and his client had entered an early plea of guilty.

Judge Smith said it was clear the father was “overwhelmed” with guilt and shame over what he had done and resigned from his job as a result.

The court heard the man had since been doing Uber work and was looked after in a mental health care unit at Nambour Hospital for a period of time.

Judge Smith sentenced the teacher to three years’ prison suspended after serving eight months.

He will be released under the supervision of an authorised corrective services officer for three years.