Music teacher caught a touching a student for the second time in eight years
A Gold Coast music teacher who inappropriately touched his 11-year-old student had lost his Blue Card six years earlier after doing the same thing to another student.
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A GOLD Coast music teacher who inappropriately touched his 11-year-old student had lost his Blue Card six years earlier after doing the same thing to another student.
The 63-year-old man, who cannot be named as it will identify the girl, was not supposed to have any contact with children following a 2012 conviction for touch an 11-year-old girl.
But he continued to give guitar lessons in 2018.
“He was teaching music because he needed the money,” defence barrister David Funch said.
The man pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court to indecent treatment of a child under 12 and conducting a restricted business.
Judge Catherine Muir sentenced him to 15 months prison to be suspended after he had served two months.
“She used to play guitar beautifully and it was her happy place to go,” she said.
“Now she doesn’t want to play music and her guitar has been sold.”
Judge Muir said she was concerned because the man had not provided any evidence he had attempted rehabilitation.
Crown prosecutor Natalie Lima told the court the man began giving the girl lessons between August and December 2018.
Just before Christmas he gave lesson in the girl’s home while her mother was upstairs.
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He asked her for a Christmas hug and buried his face in her neck before touching her upper thigh.
“He told her she had nice, soft skin,” she said.
Ms Lima told the court the man was given a 12 month intensive corrections order for an incident in 2012 which had almost identical circumstances.
The court was told the man suffered from a chronic illness, meaning prison would be difficult for him.
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