Rape-accused primary teacher Keith Eshman dubbed ‘Brother Martin’s Prodigy’ in group chat

A rape-accused primary teacher has told a court longtime friends nicknamed him in a Facebook group chat after a former teacher charged with child sex offences.

Primary teacher Keith Eshman gave evidence during his trial at Wollongong District Court on Monday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

A rape-accused primary teacher has told a court longtime friends nicknamed him in a Facebook group chat after a former teacher charged with child sex offences.

Keith William Eshman, giving evidence during the fourth day of his trial in Wollongong District Court, said he was called “Brother Martin’s Prodigy” in the chat with “mates since primary school”.

“Brother Martin was a science teacher who taught us and was found to be charged with child sex abuse at our school,” Eshman said, adding the name was given to him by someone else in the group

Eshman, who played one game for the Wests Tigers in the NRL as a teenager, previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and two counts of sexually touching a child under 10.

The trial previously heard the allegations against the 37-year-old including the touching of a young girl on the inside and outside of her underwear.

Keith Eshman leaving Wollongong District Court in 2023. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Crown prosecutor Nerissa Keay said in her opening submissions Eshman allegedly grabbed the girl’s hand and placed it on his crotch. She also alleged Eshman got on his hands and knees and licked the girl’s vagina.

During Eshman’s arrest, police seized his iPhone and MacBook. A data download of his devices uncovered a string of searches including inquiries about whether young girls can orgasm and the definition of pedophilia.

The court heard on Thursday, Eshman took to the witness box and repeatedly denied the allegations.

Eshman said he made a “silly joke” in the group chat while he was overseeing students doing arts and crafts.

“One of my friends, Dave, a member of the group, sent a photo of an older lady with large breasts saying I don’t follow this lady anymore on Instagram,” Eshman said.

“I made a silly joke ‘onto this new thing (called) pedos for life’.”

Eshman later went on to describe it as a “crude” and “silly stupid joke” and when Ms Keay asked her to explain, he said: “I wasn’t following that lady anymore and trying to follow someone completely opposite.”

Keith Eshman played one game for the Wests Tigers in the NRL.

Previously, the court heard from a senior colleague of the accused who said he was concerned about how “affectionate and cuddly” the complainant was, as well as how often she would touch her “private parts”

Eshman under examination agreed this conversation took place, describing the girl as “clingy”.

When questioned about the searches found on his phone Eshman said he was “trying to understand” child sexual behaviours.

“I was concerned about the behaviours I was seeing,” he said.

Ms Keay asked multiple questions about if Eshman was interested in children sexually and whether they could orgasm.

“No,” Eshman responded.

Before exiting the witness box, defence barrister Brendan Green asked about Eshman’s previous careers after the court heard he had “three or four” before becoming a teacher.

The court heard Eshman had worked in the military as a medic.

The trial before Judge Sharon Harris is scheduled to resume on Monday.

Got a court tip? Email [e-mail]