Taree teacher in 40s flags fight against charges of sexually abusing female student

A Mid-North Coast teacher allegedly became obsessed with a female student, sent her lingerie and sexually abused her. However, the man has flagged a fight in court.

The accused man cannot legally be named.

A Mid-North Coast teacher allegedly became obsessed with a female student, sent her lingerie and sexually abused her, a court has heard.

The man in his 40s, who cannot legally be identified, was arrested at Taree on Friday and remanded in custody at Mid-North Coast Correctional Centre at Kempsey over the weekend.

He appeared in Taree Local Court on Monday on 10 charges, including five counts of sexual intercourse without consent, or rape.

He has also been charged with two counts of sexually touching another person and one count each of sexual assault under authority, stalking/intimidating and sexually touching another person without consent. No pleas have been entered at this stage.

The man faced Magistrate Sharon Crews over videolink, applying to be released on bail to live in a small town.

Taree Courthouse.

Defence lawyer Gus Farland told the court his client’s wife was requesting to vouch for him if he was to be released.

But the police prosecutor questioned suitability given she did not know about the alleged offending over a three-year period and may be “easily deceived”.

The prosecutor told the court the teacher sent the alleged victim lingerie.

The court was told sending the lingerie was “easily provable” and the teacher had an “obsession”.

The prosecutor alleged the man was confronted by the female’s parents, but only stopped offending for a short time.

Ms Crews described allegations as “extremely serious” and said the case against the accused was relatively strong, after she read a 77-page police brief.

The court heard the female was 18 at the time of alleged offending but first came into contact with the man some time prior.

Ms Crews described an alleged “escalation in conduct” as a kind of “grooming”.

However, Mr Farland pointed out his client was not charged with grooming and Ms Crews replied “maybe I should have used a different word.”

Mr Farland told the court the teacher was “determined to defend” the charges.

The magistrate said she considered the case to be relatively strong.

He said the man had investment properties and his business “would need to close”.

Mr Farland raised questions about the stalking/intimidating allegation, telling the court it related to the alleged victim leaving on her “snap maps” Snapchat app history.

He said this “stretched the credulity” of the alleged offending causing any fear of harm.

“There is certainly evidence of a relationship and he admits to sending images, which is evidence of a relationship – but it’s my clear instructions that none of these offences occurred,” Mr Farland told the court.

A surety of $20,000 was offered up to see his client freed on bail.

Ms Crews sent Mr Farland away to see if the offer could be increased.

He later told the court the defendant would take out a second mortgage on a Mid-North Coast home.

The man was granted bail and the case was adjourned to February 12.

He was ordered to live at his parent’s home and report to Tamworth Police Station every Monday and Thursday.