Special education teacher Karly Rae, accused of grooming and having sex with student, granted bail

A Hunter teacher accused of grooming and having sex with a 15-year-old boy has been granted strict conditional bail after the court heard she was far into a high risk pregnancy and due to give birth in three months.

Rae applied for bail in Sydney’s Supreme Court. Picture: Christian Gilles / NewsWire

A Hunter teacher accused of grooming and having sex with a 15-year-old boy is about to give birth in September in a high risk pregnancy due to gestational diabetes, a court has heard.

Special education teacher Karly Rae appeared via video link in Sydney’s Supreme Court on Friday to make a bail application, just days after denying all serious charges brought against her.

This week the 36-year-old pleaded not guilty to grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity, aggravated sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16, possession of child abuse material, committing an act to pervert the course of justice and contravening an apprehended violence order.

Rae was arrested by the Child Abuse Squad at her Merewether home on October 12 last year following an investigation into alleged child abuse.

Court documents revealed the alleged incident happened between 6pm on October 4 and 12.30pm the following day where she is accused of having sex with the 15-year-old child.

Karly Rae leaving Newcastle Local Court on a previous occasion. Picture: NewsLocal

It is not alleged the complainant is a special needs child.

While Rae was initially granted bail four days after her arrest last year, she was taken back into custody in late January after allegedly ignoring an apprehended domestic violence order which was in place to protect the teenager.

On Friday, the court heard on January 14 she made five phone calls during a period of two and a half hours to the alleged victim, and had several conversations some lasting 20 minutes, trying to persuade the boy to give a false version of events that would result in her being “exculpated”.

It was also heard Rae was about to give birth in about three months time and had previous complications with prior pregnancies which had resulted in miscarriages.

The 36-year-old sobbed as the court heard there was no program available for her to give birth and maintain custody of her child while behind bars – and once she gave birth, her child would have to be taken away from her.

The Crown Prosecutor said the nature of her previous breach was very serious when she made continual contact with a vulnerable complainant, and there was risk if released that she would commit a further offence of a similar nature or interfere with witnesses.

The court heard it was a strong and “overwhelming” case against her.

Justice Hament Dhanji said it seemed “highly improbable” Rae would attempt to commit a similar offence if released.

He said given her attempt to contact the teen failed the first time because he alerted his mother and authorities, it didn’t seem rationale that she would do it again.

“That attempt has not only failed she is facing further serious charges ,” he said.

Mr Dhanji also noted her advanced stage of pregnancy and that she needed to conduct herself in a manner that ensured she remained on bail, and noted the significant psychological trauma she would be facing if she gave birth in custody,

Rae was granted bail with a long list of strict conditions.

Those included home detention, report to police three times a week, not be in the company of any person under 16 except her own child, not possess more than one mobile phone, not use any decrypted device or app or use any social media accounts.

Rae has been committed for trial in the District Court and will be arraigned next month.