Trinity Grammar teacher on child sex charges stays behind bars
A teacher at the prestigious Trinity Grammar School in the inner west who has been arrested and charged for allegedly sending sexually explicit images to a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl, did not apply for bail today and remains behind bars.
NSW
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A teacher at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney’s inner west has been arrested and charged with online grooming offences after allegedly sending sexual pictures to a person whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Alexander David Simpson, 39, was arrested at the school in Summer Hill yesterday afternoon after detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes squad began investigating the man earlier this month.
Police will allege Mr Simpson believed he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl and engaged in conversation about sexually explicit acts and sent sexually explicit images.
It will also be alleged that he was engaging in these conversations on his mobile phone while at work.
The Headmaster of Trinity Grammar School Tim Bowden said the school was co-operating with police and providing pastoral support for students.
“The police have informed the school that there is no suggestion that offences have been committed against students of the School,” he said.
Mr Simspon is a senior teacher at the school and a house tutor with Wilson Hogg House.
He is involved in Trinity Grammar School’s cadet program, has a master’s degree in teaching, and is also involved in the year 10 Charity and Community Committee.
In a search warrant executed in Padstow Heights just after the arrest, police seized clothing and electronic devices into evidence.
After his arrest, Mr Simpson was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material and send indecent material to a person under 16.
Mr Simpson did not appear before Burwood Local Court today when his case was mentioned and his lawyer Alexandra Sarmed did not apply for the teacher’s bail.
He is set to be transferred to Silverwater prison and will appear in court on 28 October.
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The arrest was made as a part of the Strike Force Trawler investigation into sexual abuse of children through the internet, with police cracking down on suspected child groomers using social media to exploit children.
The detectives use covert online operations to snare alleged child groomers.
Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander Detective Acting Superintendent Chris Goddard said it was “concerning” that the man was working around children daily.
But he added that there was “nothing to suggest” any of the teacher’s students that he was involved at school with were potential victims.
“They are very serious allegations and concerning from a police point of view … there was sufficient engagement by our detectives to get these charges,” Det Goddard said.
“These are significant charges for a person in a position of trust such as a teacher.”
Det Goddard issued a stark reminder to parents, urging them to monitor their children’s online use and warn them of potential predatory behaviour.
“I would say this type of offence given the current circumstance with COVID, there are more people online and more people engaging online,” he said.
“It is a timely reminder particularly to parents to engage with their children and talk to them about online safety, talk to them who they are dealing with, their search engines and what they’re doing.
“Spend some time with them and make them aware about the pitfalls and risks of engaging with people online they don’t know.”
Parents at Trinity Grammar school are encouraged to contact police if they have any concerning information about the teacher.
Originally published as Trinity Grammar teacher on child sex charges stays behind bars
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