Deakin Uni rapist: student teacher Tristan Rios pleads guilty to sexual abuse of a child under 16
A student teacher and karate instructor has admitted repeatedly raping a girl over five years, with the victim telling the County Court she had feared him and felt “hopeless” and “powerless” to stop the abuse.
South East
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A man has admitted repeatedly raping a child while he was studying a Masters of Teaching, under which he was seconded to high schools.
Tristan Rios, 20, pleaded guilty in the County Court on July 18 to one charge of persistent sexual abuse of a child under 16.
Rios, from Dandenong North, performed lewd acts on the girl several times between August, 2012 and June, 2017, the court heard.
He also forced her to touch him inappropriately.
Rios was enrolled in the Deakin University teaching major (part of an Arts degre) while committing some of the indecent acts.
A requirement of the course is for students to undertake placement at secondary schools.
The Leader cannot confirm how many — or which — schools Rios was required to attend for placement work.
Rios’ lawyer said he was still enrolled in the teaching course but would likely transfer to a new major.
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Rios, a black belt in karate, also taught children while he was an instructor from August 2015 until February 12 this year — the day he was charged by police.
Rios stopped his abuse after telling his victim “she was a big girl now”.
The girl said in her victim impact statement she was scared of Rios because he was a black belt in karate.
“(Rios) saw my innocence and took advantage of me,” she said.
“I felt hopeless, powerless.
“I was always sad even in my happiest moments.”
The victim’s father fought back tears as he told the court the offences left him devastated.
“I feel like I failed to protect my baby,” he said.
The victim’s mother said she was “living in a nightmare which she cannot wake up from”.
Rios’s defence lawyer said his client was “weak-willed” and “he stopped because he knows what he did was wrong”.
Rios will continue to study arts at the school.
Judge Paul Higham accepted Rios’s hopes of becoming a teacher were over.
“(When you) strip everything away the need for stark punishment remains,” Judge Higham said.
The plea hearing was sped up so Rios could have his matter heard before he turned 21 on August 2.
Judge Higham said this was to minimise the chances of Rios going to an adult prison
Rios will be sentenced on July 31.