Ulf Kaiser: Music teacher accused of sexually touching, indecent assault of students

A “hands-on” music teacher accused of indecently assaulting five of his students across two different high schools has, through his lawyer, described his actions as foolish, not criminal.

A “hands-on” music teacher accused of inappropriately touching five of his female students across two different high schools in the Campbelltown area has, through his lawyer, described his actions as foolish, not criminal.

Ulf Werner Astleitner-Kaiser, of Mittagong, appeared before Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday on charges including sexually touching a minor, indecent assault and assault while employed at Lurnea and Ambarvale High Schools. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Ulf Kaiser (left) leaves Campbelltown Court in December last year. Picture: Carla Hildebrandt

In an opening address, the crown prosecutor told the court that on separate occasions on the same day, Astleitner-Kaiser approached the back of two female students who were sitting at either a keyboard or piano at different times and touched them inappropriately.

In the first incident, the teacher is alleged to have used his left hand to guide the student’s hand across the keyboard keys while his other hand was on their back, sliding down to just above the buttocks.

It is alleged a similar event took place with the second alleged victim, with the court told each incident was witnessed by a student.

On another occasion, Astleitner-Kaiser is alleged to have touched another female student’s back during class and moved his hand down near her pants, prompting the alleged victim to tell the teacher not to touch her.

Ulf Kaiser.

The next year, at a different school, a female student left Astleitner-Kaiser’s classroom following a friendship problem.

The prosecutor told the court the student will allege the music teacher followed her and pushed her against the wall, put his arm around her shoulder and told her she “looked like a model”. He then allegedly said she would have to wisely pick her boyfriends as she got older.

On a later date at the same school, it is alleged Astleitner-Kaiser touched a female student’s genitalia when picking up a mobile phone from her lap, the court heard.

When the music teacher returned the phone a few minutes later, it’s alleged he grabbed the student’s breast.

Astleitner-Kaiser’s lawyer Paul McGirr, in his opening address, said the classroom contained “troubled” children and that his client’s “hands-on” approach wasn’t best practice.

“Was it foolish for him to ever touch a child in this day and age? Yes. Was it criminal, I say no,” Mr McGirr said.

The court heard the credibility of the student’s accounts would be questioned, with one alleged victim previously spoken to for making a false report to police. Mr McGirr told the court a student who witnessed the mobile phone incident had told a teacher the alleged victim had made the story up.

The hearing continues.