Damian Scott Wanstall: Former Kellyville High School deputy principal jailed

A former deputy principal of a northwest Sydney high school will spend time behind bars for attempting to procure a teenage girl for sex after sending sexually explicit messages online.

Former Kellyville High School deputy principal Damian Wanstall.

Former Kellyville High School deputy principal Damian Wanstall has been jailed for more than three years for attempting to procure a 14-year-old girl sex.

The 49-year-old faced Parramatta District Court for sentencing on Wednesday, after he pleaded guilty to using carriage service to procure person less than 16 for sexual activity.

The ex-educator – with 23 years’ experience – was arrested in December 2020 after he placed an ad online seeking encounters with “legal” teens, before a detective engaged with him posing as a 14-year-old girl.

In agreed facts tendered to the court, Wanstall’s messages under the name Johnno33 called for “any Indian or filo teen want fun – 40yo aussie daddy seeking play”.

Wanstall, who is also a father, offered $300 “for a few hours fun”.

“You realise im (sic) talking sex?’’ one of the messages said.

The predator said he was contemplating oral sex and wanted to meet at Rouse Hill Town Centre before asking: “What size are your boobs” and suggested travelling to meet her and “we can play in the car”.

They arranged to meet at Westmead where detectives arrested him on December 7, 2020.

“There’s nothing in the material to suggest that if the child had not been real your plans wouldn’t have been put in place,’’ Judge Andrew Colefax said.

Damian Scott Wanstall will spend three years behind bars. Picture:Dylan Coker

“Fortunately for our community that was not a 14-year-old girl, but you did not know that.’’

Judge Colefax told the court Wanstall exploited the girl when he asked her about her parents separating.

“The communications became very graphic and developed to quite the concerning level,’’ he said.

Wanstall was prepared to pay $1000 for sex with the teen who he communicated with over four days.

“You’re a parent yourself,’’ Judge Colefax said.

“How can you imagine parents would react knowing that their 14-year-old daughter was being preyed upon by a man like you, because that’s what you were doing.’’

The judge rejected Wanstall’s excuses for being drunk when sending the messages as “implausible” and said his sexual interest in younger people below the age of consent led him to offend.

The judge also dismissed the reason for engaging in “many, many conversations” with who he thought was a child because it was to grab his ex-girlfriend’s attention and make her jealous.

“That explanation does not make any sense,’’ he said.

“There’s no evidence that you knew your former partner used that particular platform.’’

He said Wanstall, who took part in a positive lifestyles program, was not genuinely remorseful and failed to seek counselling.

He was given a backdated sentence of three years and seven months to expire on Decemer 16, 2026. He will be eligible for parole on May 16, 2025.

The judge took his plea of guilt into account and gave him a 10 per cent discount off his sentence.

Wanstall’s mother had to be consoled in court after she learned her son would be going to prison.