Cronulla High teacher stood down over online child grooming charges

A popular high school teacher, Scout leader and swim coach who once received an award from Scott Morrison for his service to the community has been charged with grooming a teenage boy online.

Craig Chantler, who ran for Sutherland Shire Council at last year's local government elections, has been charged with grooming a teenage boy online.

A popular school teacher, head swim coach and aspiring politician once recognised by former prime minister Scott Morrison for his “selfless service” to the community has been charged with sexually grooming a teenage boy online.

Detectives arrested Craig William Chantler at the Swimmerz Academy swim school in Caringbah during morning practice on April 29, following an investigation into allegations a 15-year-old boy had been sexually groomed on social media.

Chantler, who at the time was employed as a PDHPE teacher at Cronulla High School, was taken to Sutherland Police Station and charged with procuring a child for unlawful sexual activity, and using a carriage service to procure a person under 16 years for sexual activity.

He is yet to enter pleas to the charges.

Police will allege Chantler communicated over the phone with the teen between April 21 and April 25 “with the intention of procuring (the child) to engage in sexual activity with him”.

High school teacher and swim coach Craig Chantler has been accused of grooming a 15-year-old boy online.

Chantler was granted strict conditional bail to live at a nominated residence, report to police daily and abide by an 8pm-7am curfew.

As part of his bail undertaking, Chantler is also banned from accessing any social media apps, contacting anyone under the age of 18 or being involved in any activities that include children.

Chantler once ran in local council elections.

The conditions, sighted by The Saturday Telegraph, prohibit the 42-year-old from attending public pools, and he cannot be involved in Scouts, the NSW Rural Fire Service, or the youth-focused Duke of Edinburgh Award program while the charges remain on foot.

The Telegraph understands Chantler was an active member of all three organisations prior to his arrest, even receiving a community award in 2017 from then-treasurer Scott Morrison for his dedication to the local Scouting movement.

Chantler further spruiked his list of community affiliations during his unsuccessful tilt for a seat on Sutherland Shire Council at last year’s local government elections, where he attracted just 660 votes out of a possible 29,000.

“My dedication and passion towards our community is evident in the roles that I have chosen to undertake to serve our community,” the independent candidate wrote in glossy election flyers distributed to households throughout the campaign.

Craig Chantler boasted of his strong community links during his campaign for a seat on Sutherland Shire Council last year.

Chief among those roles was his position as head coach at the family owned and operated Swimmerz Academy.

A post on the swim school’s Facebook page from March 2021 lauded Chantler’s skills and qualifications, saying he was an accredited coach with 20 years’ experience, and whose students had won medals in state and national events.

When The Telegraph contacted Swimmerz Academy on Friday for comment, an employee said Chantler no longer worked at the facility, before ending the call.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the NSW Department of Education confirmed Chantler had since been removed from Cronulla High and placed on “alternative duties” where he has no contact with students.

However, they refused to answer further questions, including if staff, parents and students had been advised of the allegations.

Chantler has been excused from attending court when the matter is listed for mention next Thursday.

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