Alun Rowe, former Catholic school teacher admits sex acts with child, denies possessing exploitation material

A former Catholic school teacher has pleaded guilty in court over a charge he had an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

Alun Rowe, a former catholic school teacher, pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child. Picture: NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

A former Catholic school teacher has admitted he maintained an unlawful sexual relationship with a child, but says he wasn’t in possession of child exploitation material, a court has heard.

On Tuesday, Alun Rowe faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with possessing child exploitation material and maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

SA Police had formerly charged him with seven counts of maintaining an unlawful relationship, but dropped all but one during a hearing in August.

Court documents previously released to The Advertiser revealed Rowe performed sex acts on a girl under the age of 18, and made her perform sex acts on herself.

Alun Rowe, a former catholic school teacher, pleaded guilty to maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child. Picture: NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

“Mr Rowe, it is alleged that between February 2019 and August 2020, in Adelaide and other places, being in a position of authority in relation to other persons under the age of 18 years, you maintained an unlawful sexual relationship with her by engaging in two or more sexual acts,” Magistrate John Wells said.

“How do you plead?”

“Guilty,” Rowe answered quietly.

Nick Griffin, for Rowe, said his client would be contesting the possession allegation.

“It is alleged that in June 2023, you possessed child exploitation material knowing of its pornographic nature, how do you plead?

“Not guilty,” Rowe said.

“But your client concedes a case to answer?” Mr Wells asked his lawyer.

“Yes,” Mr Griffin said.

Mr Wells asked prosecutors if Rowe was to be remanded in custody, but they declined.

Rowe was remanded on continuing bail to his home address in Woodcroft.

He will return to court in February.

Originally published as Alun Rowe, former Catholic school teacher admits sex acts with child, denies possessing exploitation material