Taree teacher in court charged with sexually abusing teen student he allegedly ‘obsessed’ over

A Mid-North Coast teacher has been accused of obsessing over and stalking a young student – and repeatedly sexually assaulting her over a number of years. Now, his case has been pushed back.

Taree Police Station.

A Mid-North Coast teacher accused of becoming obsessed with a student and repeatedly raping her has had his case pushed back because a “significant” amount of new electronic material has emerged.

Since being arrested in December last year, charges against the Taree teacher in his 40s – who cannot be legally named – have more than doubled.

The man now faces 23 charges, including more than 10 counts of sexual intercourse without consent and a string of allegations of aggravated sexual touching without consent.

The Taree teacher facing charges. Picture: Supplied

In addition, the teacher has been charged with stalking and intimidation and aggravated sexual assault of a person under his authority.

Charges all relate to the same alleged victim. It’s been alleged in Taree Local Court the man became obsessed with the girl, sent her lingerie and tailgated her.

The court previously heard from barrister for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who alleged “years of sexual assault” which “often involved the use of a vehicle”.

He told the court the accused man had been “tailgating the complainant and forcing her car over, or waiting for her in his vehicle”.

The prosecutor alleged the man told the girl: “I can’t control this attraction to you.”

He has not entered pleas, but appeared set to fight the allegations during earlier proceedings.

Defence lawyer Gus Farland told Magistrate Sharon Crews on Monday that a “significant” amount of new electronic material had only been made available to him just over a week ago.

Mr Farland said he needed more time to go over the material because it related to the “issue of consent” in the case. Ms Crews adjourned to September 23.

The accused teacher leaves court. Picture: Janine Watson.

Meanwhile, the accused has been bailed to live with his parents in a small town near Tamworth.

He was arrested on December 8 and spent a weekend remanded in custody before being released on bail.

Police opposed bail on December 11 and said they held “serious concerns for the ongoing safety of the (alleged) victim due to the level of fixation” they claim developed.

The prosecution told the court the student was 18 at the time of the alleged offending, but came into contact with the man sometime beforehand.

It was also heard the teacher – who has been working a different job – was confronted by the young woman’s parents, but allegedly only ceased offending for a short time.

In a bail hearing, Magistrate Sharon Crews said the “grooming” allegations were “extremely serious” and the case seemed relatively strong.

Mr Farland told the court his client was not charged with grooming and Ms Crews replied: “Maybe I should have used a different word.”

The defendant took out a second mortgage on a Mid-North Coast home to secure bail. He has been ordered to report to a police station each week.

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