Former teacher David Leishman appeals sexual touching sentence

The former Blue Mountains teacher who kissed a student in the staffroom and groped her breasts reckons his sentence is too harsh.

A District Court judge has warned a former Blue Mountains high school teacher who molested one of his students after months of grooming she is considering increasing his sentence on appeal.

David Leishman, 50, of Blaxland, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexually touching a person, and one count of assault with an act of indecency in December last year.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail last month with a non-parole period of nine months, and immediately appealed the sentence.

David Leishman is serving a 12-month jail sentence after being convicted of child-sex offences in February.

According to court documents, Leishman developed a close relationship with his victim at school and texted her several times.

He also sent her several letters and cards in which he expressed his love for her.

According to facts, Leishman kissed the girl for about 30 seconds in one incident in the staffroom, and groped her breasts and buttocks in two other incidents.

The girl later told her parents about the incidents, and Leishman was arrested shortly after the complaint.

Shortly after his arrest, another girl came forward about an incident involving a kiss on the lips in a school hall.

The second victim said she was visiting the school when she saw Leishman approach her.

She told police he said her name in a “soft, slow, sighing manner” before he grabbed her cheeks and kissed her on the lips.

David Leishman was a popular teacher at Blaxland High School before his arrest in late 2019.

In Penrith District Court on Monday, Leishman’s lawyer indicated to Judge Siobhan Herbert he would be asking for an intensive corrections order rather than full-time jail.

However, Judge Herbert said “I intend to give the Parker warning” on the matter, an indication she was considering increasing the sentence on appeal.

She adjourned the hearing to April 1 to give Leishman’s lawyer time to consider whether he will continue with the appeal.

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