Bendigo teacher Bryan Russell Keely pleads guilty to sexual assault, grooming child in vile ‘sexual relationship’

A Bendigo teacher has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child who he called his “girlfriend”, telling her he loved her and it was his “dream” to live with her and watch their children run around.

Bryan Russell Keely pleaded guilty at Bendigo Magistrates' Court to sexual abuse of a child. Picture: Supplied.

A Bendigo teacher has been exposed for grooming a child in a “sexual relationship”, calling her his “girlfriend” and telling her he loved her and it was his “dream” to live with her and watch their children run around.

Bryan Russell Keely, 35, pleaded guilty at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to a raft of sexual offences including the sexual penetration of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child, and the possession of child abuse material.

The court heard Keely groomed the child into performing sexual acts with him on several occasions between May and October of 2023.

The Spring Gully man was arrested at a Bendigo school on August 28 last year after a teenage girl told police she had been in a “sexual relationship” with Keely for a number of months.

He was released on bail the next day and ordered not to contact the child.

However, shortly after, Keely was back grooming the child for child abuse material and meeting up with her for sexual acts.

Bryan Russell Keely has been charged at Bendigo Magistrates' Court with sexual abuse of a child. Picture: Contributed.

Police allege the suspended teacher used his mother’s iPad to groom the same child on Snapchat and possessed child abuse material of her while on bail in September and October 2023.

The court heard Keely was busted meeting up with the child in September while on bail and “intimately kissing and hugging” her.

Court documents reveal Keely told a 15-year-old girl it was his “dream” to live with her and watch their children run around, while he was on bail for sexually assaulting the same teenager.

“I love you baby so much it hurts me wishing you a (sic) amazing sleep and dreams of us living together in our own home with our kids running around laughing. Your (sic) my beautiful angel love u from the deepest part of my heart xx,” the accused allegedly wrote.

Following his plea, the 29 charges were consolidated into seven.

Magistrate Trieu Huynh on accepting the plea committed Keely to the Bendigo County Court on July 29 for a plea hearing.