Whyalla primary school child sexual offender Trent Hay unmasked in pictures for first time

The monster primary school teacher who preyed on three children and tainted school with his “filthy hands” can be shown in photos for the first time.

A primary school teacher who preyed on three children and tainted school with his “filthy hands” can be unmasked in pictures for the first time.

Trent James Hay, 48, will be sentenced this week after the extent of his sickening crimes on the young victims, their families and the school principal was revealed.

Victim impact statements were read to the Port Augusta District Court in May.

The first victim’s parents said Hay had corrupted a piece of their daughter and taken away all the trust they had in the world.

“Trent Hay, you are a man that will forever haunt our lives,” they said.

“What you have done to our family and the impact it has had on us is unforgivable.

“You have tainted all her memories of school with your filthy hands.”

Whyalla school teacher Trent Hay.

The parents of the second victim said they were sickened that Hay abused “beautiful and fragile young girls who trusted him wholeheartedly”.

Their daughter said when the abuse happened it made her feel worried, uncomfortable and not safe.

“I hope (Hay) stays in jail forever so he can never make anybody else feel this way,” she said.

In her victim impact statement, the principal of the Whyalla primary school – who The Advertiser is not naming – detailed how hearing disclosures about Hay’s abuse was heartbreaking.

“I think about what he did and the children every day,” she said.

Convicted pedophile Whyalla school teacher Trent Hay.

“Hearing the details from the child or their mother was horrific. As a mother it destroyed me, over and over again.”

The principal said the actions of Hay, who was once a “trusted colleague”, has sabotaged her entire life.

“Every day that I come to work I am constantly reminded of what happened here and the enormous impact his actions have had on so many lives,” she said.

“As I walk around the school, there are moments that I feel my eyes welling with tears as the overwhelming grief I feel because of the trauma that he has caused me and our entire school community.”

After a trial in the District Court, Auxiliary Judge Gordon Barrett found Hay guilty of two counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual abuse of a child.

In a judgment published online, the court heard Hay indecently assaulted the first victim a few years ago.

The court heard his DNA was found in the first victim’s underpants.

The victim told her parents Hay gave her a Mentos because “she was a good girl and she had to keep it a secret”.

The court heard Hay also sexually abused two more students including pulling one girl between his legs and rubbing her bottom.

Hay, who is in custody, will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Originally published as Whyalla primary school child sexual offender Trent Hay unmasked in pictures for first time