Assistant principal admits to sexually abusing 15 students at Wattle Grove Public School
AN assistant school principal has admitted sexually abusing 15 students in his Sydney classroom. Shane Andrew Matthews groomed the boys by giving them fake money and prizes on “Superhero” days. He pleaded guilty to 56 charges relating to sexual abuse.
NSW
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AN assistant school principal has admitted sexually abusing 15 students in his Sydney classroom.
Shane Andrew Matthews groomed the boys by giving them fake money and prizes on “Superhero” days.
The 30-year-old has pleaded guilty to 56 charges relating to the sexual abuse of his students at Wattle Grove Public School in Sydney’s southwest.
Several victims and their parents burst into tears as the pleas were entered at Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday.
One of Matthews’ students said it was a relief he had finally admitted to his crimes. “It was good to see that all of his confidence has gone,” he said. “I felt very pleased, it was bit emotional ... I had a few happy tears.”
In April The Daily Telegraph revealed how Matthews persistently sexually and indecently assaulted his victims, aged between 10 and 12, over a decade.
Most of the alleged abuse occurred in a classroom during lessons or private tutorials between 2011 and 2015. Matthews had students commit acts of indecency on themselves and also performed sexual acts on them.
The abuse of one victim, who was not a student, dated back as far as 2005. Matthews also befriended some victims through an unofficial school Facebook page.
He encouraged many young boys to perform or receive sexual acts by giving them fake money, which they could then use to buy Smiggles stationery items at class auctions.
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Matthews, who also taught dance classes and organised eisteddfods, was a teacher at Wattle Grove for seven years before becoming an assistant principal at Campbelltown’s Woodland Road Public School last year.
Many of the auctions where abused students bought prizes, were held on “Super Hero” days, when Matthews would often dress up as “Captain Obvious”.
A Wattle Grove Public School newsletter announcing Matthews’ departure a year before his arrest described him as a “wonderful asset” to the school who would be “sorely missed”.
NSW Child abuse officers attached to Strike Force Verletta arrested Matthews in September 2016 and initially charged him with 14 offences but laid dozens more as victims continued to come forward.
Matthews remains in custody and will face Campbelltown District court in February next year.