Chris Dawson’s student sues state over failure to stop ‘sexual abuse’

One of Chris Dawson’s former students is suing the state, arguing it failed to stop the ex-teacher “grooming” and “sexually abusing” her.

The former schoolgirl who says she was groomed and “sexually abused” by wife killer Chris Dawson is suing the state of NSW.

The woman has launched proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court and is seeking financial compensation from the state of NSW, claiming she suffered as a result of its negligence.

Dawson will on Friday learn whether he will have time added onto his jail sentence after he was earlier this year found guilty of one count of carnal knowledge relating to unlawful sexual acts with the schoolgirl while she was a 16-year-old student in his class at a Sydney high school.

The woman said Dawson began “grooming” her in the schoolground during which he would brush up against her and single her out.

She said Dawson deliberately altered the class roll so that she would be in his class in year 11.

“Towards the end of 1980, Dawson sexually abused the (student) for the first time at his parents’ house in Maroubra,” the woman said in her statement of claim.

In the court documents, she further says that she was “sexually abused” by Dawson while she served as a babysitter at his home and she would have sex with him while staying in the guest bedroom.

“Dawson would have sexual intercourse with the (student) when his wife woke in the morning and took a shower,” the woman says in court documents.

The woman says she was groomed and sexually abused by Chris Dawson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short.

Dawson will face sentencing proceedings on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Vincent de Gouw

She said two of her friends went to the school principal with their concerns about the student’s relationship with Dawson however were told to stop being “silly girls”.

She further said she went to her school formal with Dawson and sat at a table with staff and spent “a significant amount of time” in his office with the door locked.

“(The state of NSW) through its staff knew or ought to have known of the ongoing inappropriate and sexually abusive relationship between the (student) and Dawson,” the woman says in her claim filed in the Supreme Court.

According to her statement of claim, she also said that she was made to dress in a school uniform for Dawson’s “sexual gratification” and was “made to engage in sexual activity with both Dawson and his brother, Paul Dawson, at the same time”.

She also claims she was encouraged to have sex with Paul Dawson while Chris watched on “in a clandestine manner”.

Paul Dawson has never been charged with any alleged sexual offence relating to underage girls.

Dawson is being countersued by the state of NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw.

He was jailed for murdering his wife Lynnette. Picture: Supplied

Chris Dawson will on Friday be sentenced by Judge Sarah Huggett after being found guilty of one count of carnal knowledge.

He is already serving a 24-year sentence after being found guilty of the murder of his wife Lynette, who disappeared from their northern beaches home in early 1982.

The woman alleges the state of NSW breached its duty of care and failed “to devise, implement and/or maintain a system for the reporting of sexual abuse by other students and/or staff”.

In its defence, the state of NSW said it was not liable because “its employees, agents, contractors and volunteers acted in a manner that was widely accepted in Australia by peer professional opinion as competent professional practice”.

It also said that any damages ought to be reduced because of the student’s failure to end the relationship or make a complaint to the school, her parents or police.

The state of NSW has also countersued Dawson, arguing he was bound to “not engage in misconduct, serious, wilful, or otherwise, including encouraging or permitting a school student to have a relationship with (Dawson) involving sexual activity”.

It said that if the woman suffered any injury, loss or damage, it was caused by Dawson’s negligence and breach of his employment contract.

And it is seeking complete indemnity should any damages be awarded.

In his defence to the cross-claim, Dawson denied all allegations against him.

Originally published as Chris Dawson’s student sues state over failure to stop ‘sexual abuse’