Teacher Blake Wakfer-Denbeigh charged with grooming student for sex
A schoolteacher from a southwest Sydney school has been charged with grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity after members of staff reported his interactions with the child to the school.
Police & Courts
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A teacher at a southwest Sydney school has been charged with grooming a student for sex after staff raised the alarm with police.
Blake Wakfer-Denbeigh, 27, fronted Picton Local Court on Thursday, the same day parents at St Benedict’s Catholic College in Oran Park were told of the alleged incident between him and a student.
Eagle Vale man Wakfer-Denbeigh has been charged with grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity after the school said members of staff reported his interactions with the child to police.
“Yesterday, a member of the St Benedict’s staff was charged by NSW Police with one count of grooming,” Principal Kerrie Piatek said in a letter to parents on Thursday.
“This followed a notification to authorities by the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong after the college raised concerns regarding the alleged behaviour by the staff member towards a student.
“As soon as concerns were raised … the college implemented its established policies and procedures. This included consultation with the parents of the student involved and the standing down of the staff member.”
He was denied bail in court and is due to appear again in the same court next month,
“Last month, detectives attached to Camden Police Area Command with the assistance of the Child Abuse Squad, commenced an investigation involving allegations a student had been groomed by a 27-year-old male teacher at a school in Oran Park,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
“Following extensive investigations, detectives attended an Eagle Vale home on Wednesday 12 June 2024, where they arrested the man.
“He was taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity.”
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