Gippsland Grammar support worker Tristan Vanderwatt jailed after sex with underage student
A Gippsland boarding school support staffer who prowled the $17k a year campus for underage students like it was a “dating app” before being arrested trying to catch a plane to South Africa could be out of jail by the end of 2021.
South East
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A Gippsland Grammar student support staffer who had sex with an underage student, and propositioned a 15-year-old girl for sex via Snapchat, has been jailed.
Tristan Vanderwatt, 21, was sentenced in the County Court on April 23 to a minimum 20 months’ jail after pleading guilty to charges including two counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16.
Vanderwatt targeted his victims while in a student support position at the posh school’s Sale campus between June and December, 2019.
The South African man – on a “gap year” at the $17,000 a year school – propositioned a 15-year-old student for sex multiple times via Snapchat.
Vanderwatt also sent sexually explicit messages via Snapchat and Houseparty to another girl, aged 14 at the time.
Vanderwatt sexually violated the victim several times at different locations within the school including his room, and the gymnasium.
Vanderwatt used the girl to “entice” the first victim into having sex with him, the court heard.
The offending ended when a student told the principal what was going on.
Vanderwatt was evicted on December 6, placed in a hotel and told his crimes will be reported to police.
Australian Federal Police arrested Vanderwatt at Melbourne Airport on December 9 while he was boarding a plane to South Africa.
Vanderwatt confessed his crimes but said his victim flirted with him first.
He first came on the school’s radar back in April after he asked a girl via Snapchat if she wanted to come to his room for a “cuddle”, the court heard.
Vanderwatt was warned not to have any social media contact with students but retained his position.
Judge Paul Higham said during a plea hearing on April 7 that he found it “extraordinary” the school would tell Vanderwatt he is a “naughty boy” but not move him on.
“The school singularly failed their students,” Judge Higham said.
“They allowed him (Vanderwatt) like the fox … to remain at the school.
“A quick reminder of appropriate boundaries and then you’re on your way.”
The court heard, Vanderwatt held a semi-supervisory role with a “duty of care” within the school’s “Blackwood House” boarding room campus.
Vanderwatt’s responsibilities to students included an undertaking to “encourage a moral disposition on life”.
Defence counsel Glenn Casement said his client undertook an induction before starting work at the school but the training was a “bit light on”.
“You don’t need an education to know it’s wrong to have sex with a child …,” Judge Higham said.
“He appears to be using the school as a dating app … (he) appears to be seeking sexual partners from the students at the school.
“He must’ve understood the school wasn’t a dating app … he’s not going to the local bar in Sale – he’s approaching students.”
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In her victim impact statement, the mother of a victim said sending her daughter to a boarding school was “the very worst of decisions”.
She said her daughter had received “negative comments” from other students, and boarding house employees.
The mother said the boarding house master and his wife had “blamed her daughter” for what happened, the court heard.
Vanderwatt – who had spent 136 days in custody – was jailed for a maximum three years.
He will be deported back to South Africa once he is released.