Ben Fenner: Reddam House teacher jail sentence for student relationship
From teaching at an exclusive private college in Bondi to sharing a jail cell, a man who targeted and ‘used’ a vulnerable teenage student for sex has been sentenced to jail.
Southern Courier
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A high school biology teacher who targeted and groomed a vulnerable teenage student before entering into a three-month sexual relationship has been sentenced to jail.
UK-born teacher Ben Fenner, 35, was convicted in Downing Centre District Court on Friday of seven counts of sexual intercourse with a person under his care at Bondi’s private Reddam House college and sentenced to three years and nine months jail.
Judge Robert Weber said the victim was entitled to approach and be educated by the teacher however, this was “cruelly dashed” by Fenner’s actions.
“The offender used her over a period of months for his own sexual gratification,” he said.
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The court heard how the college had a policy encouraging senior students to contact teachers out-of-hours for educational support. Fenner twisted one of these out-of-hours conversations into a sexual tone by asking about lovebites he had seen on the teenager earlier that day.
Fenner previously confessed to the court he took advantage of the student, who had been experiencing a stressful family situation, as he was sexually attracted to her.
The pair engaged in 15 consensual sex acts often unprotected, at beaches and homes in the eastern suburbs and Central Coast in 2018.
On one occasion Fenner bought the student a sex toy and made her use it in front of him.
The victim previously told the court of the traumatic impact of the sexual abuse had led her to try and take her own life.
“I was going through the most stressful time of my life … (Fenner) took advantage of that,” she said.
“He should’ve stopped … he knew the rules. You have taken so much away from me, my friends and my high school experience. I am so glad I reported it before he would do it to someone else.”
Fenner, who had achieved high honours in Scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh program, apologised to the victim when giving evidence last month.
He will be eligible for release in January 2023.