David Robinson walks free from jail after pleading guilty for grooming a student

The teen victim of a teacher’s aide motivated by ‘sexual desires’ buying him lunch, Netflix and playing X-box together, has told a court that he will protect his own ‘children from monsters’.

A family member of a teacher’s aide who preyed on a vulnerable teenage student in the hope of sexual gratification has lashed out at the media by hitting a photographer.

Artist and former teacher’s aide David Robinson, of St Andrews, faced Campbelltown District Court on Friday for sentencing for the single charge of grooming a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity.

Before heading into the building on Friday morning, a family member lashed out at media outside the building, hitting a photographer and throwing his belongings.

The man was handcuffed and taken inside the building where he was spoken to by police and banned from the courthouse.

Inside court it was revealed the 29-year-old took a shine to the teenage student who looked up to Robinson as a “big brother”, but his sinister actions were motivated by a mix of sexual desires and sympathy.

Child groomer David Robinson leaving Campbelltown Court on Friday.

The educator bought the teenage victim lunch daily from the school canteen, handed over his Netflix account details and would play Xbox together each night, the court heard.

Robinson even handed over his credit card details so the student could make an Xbox-related purchase, however the court heard the victim then spent about $1000 extra on items the St Andrews man didn’t know about.

On one occasion, the educator told the crying victim he “loved him” as a friend, the court heard.

Robinson’s barrister, John Stratton SC, told the court his client’s offending was on the “lower end of the scale”.

However, the court heard the former teacher and artist had sent a picture of his crotch to the teenage victim and engaged in calls that were of “inappropriate duration”.

A victim impact statement, read out in court on behalf of the victim, revealed the ongoing torment and suffering triggered by the actions of his trusted teacher.

“There are no words to explain to me most of the stuff he has done,” the victim said.

“I’m just starting to figure out what he has done and I don’t know how I feel about it.

A camera-shy David Robinson is protected by a supporter.

“I will never forgive these things and will never forget. I wish I had the power and the strength to put him in his place. I will protect my kids from monsters.”

During sentencing Judge Philip Ingram SC said Robinson was in a position of trust as a support teacher for the student.

“The breach of trust is a significant factor and the victim’s impact statement makes clear the breaches had significant impacts,” Judge Ingram said.

Robinson, who had been in a long-term relationship at the time of the offending, had personal conversations with the victim about his strained relationship with his family members.

The judge noted there had been “grooming conduct and non-grooming conduct” and “even if it wasn’t grooming, it eventually fell into grooming behaviour”.

Judge Ingram took into account Robinson’s strained relationship with family members, claiming he was abandoned by his mother and was emotionally and physically abused by his father.

The court heard the 29-year-old suffers from severe anxiety and depression which sometimes results in psychotic tendencies.

“The offender expressed remorse for the offending and had empathy for the victim,” Judge Ingram said.

In his decisions for sentencing, the judge acknowledged the remorse and said Robinson was “unlikely to reoffend in the future”, while taking into account COVID restrictions in prison and the further impacts on his mental health.

David Robinson, 29, leaving Campbelltown Courthouse.

The child groomer filmed media as he left the courthouse on Friday.

Despite the offence holding a maximum prison sentence for 10 years, Robinson avoided prison and was sentenced to a community corrections order for three years.

The St Andrews man will perform 500 hours of community service work and complete rehabilitation and treatment programs.

Judge Ingram told Robinson he was “fortunate” not to go to prison.

“You shouldn’t interpret the order as the court not taking this in a serious matter and you shouldn’t for a moment doubt the offence is very serious,” the Judge said.

“The grooming of young boys or girls is conduct where the person ends up in custody.

“It seems to me that it is unlikely you’re unable to come to grips with the reality of your conduct.”

Judge Ingram told Robinson if he steps out of line a jail term will follow.

“You are on the first rung of a very tall ladder and you will climb it very quickly, if you thought one month in jail was hard imagine being there for five years,” he said.

“You are deluding yourself and that is dangerous because it can lead you into further offending.”

When exiting court Robinson himself lashed out at the Macarthur Chronicle reporter by yelling out “f**king dumb c**t” as he got into an awaiting vehicle.