Paedo Cranbourne driving instructor sexually abused teens, performed lewd acts during lessons
A perverted driving instructor preyed on two of his intellectually disabled teenage students, sexually abusing them during lessons. And the paedo’s excuse he made to the victims’ mother was just as appalling.
South East
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A paedophile driving instructor sexually abused his students and performed a lewd act in the passenger seat during lessons, a court has heard.
And Trevor Pierce, 76, told the horrified mother of his victims that they “started it” and had “done things they perhaps shouldn’t have”.
The Cranbourne retiree — who volunteered free driving lessons to two young boys to help get their hours up — pleaded guilty to sexual offences at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday following a string of sickening incidents between late 2018 and May last year.
Pierce messaged two boys through email and Facebook messenger where he referred to one teen as “big boy” and the other as “possum”.
The boys had dinner at Pierce’s house before the predator offered to take them for lessons on Fridays commencing in late 2018.
In one incident, the boys attended Pierce’s home to fix his computer when a pornographic website appeared on the screen.
Pierce touched one boy’s nipple before exposing his genitalia.
In March last year Pierce took one boy on a driving lesson to the Tooradin lookout before touching the teen’s genitalia on top of his pants.
The boy told Pierce to stop performing a lewd act as they drove home but Pierce refused, claiming he wanted his genitalia to have “fresh air”.
The same teen was driving with Pierce at Lysterfield lake a month later when Pierce rubbed the boy’s leg and moved toward his genital area on top of his pants.
Pierce then performed a lewd act when they stopped to eat McDonald’s at a nearby estate.
The second boy recounted when Pierce quizzed him about his sexual preferences before stroking him on top of his pants during lessons.
He said Pierce would perform a lewd act on him during “most” sessions.
Magistrate Vicky Prapas heard the disgusting abuse was uncovered when the boy’s mother read a vile message from Pierce on one of her boy’s phones.
“Hey big boy, learned how to swallow yet?” the message read.
The terrified mother alerted police and called Pierce, who blamed the children for his sick acts.
“They’ve done things they perhaps shouldn’t have … I don’t want to get them in more trouble they are already in … they started it,” he said.
Pierce told police his behaviour was the result of a “a ‘come on’ from (the boys), not me”.
“I thought I was helping them through their difficulties,” he said.
The defence said Pierce, a married father of two who suffers from diabetes and depression, “grossly lamented” his behaviour.
He appeared in court via an online link from home, supported by his wife who was “devastated” by the offences.
“(One child) decided to (perform a lewd act) on the first incident … while (Pierce) was aware (the victims) had aides to assist in school, he wasn’t aware of specific cognitive disabilities,” the defence said.
“(Pierce) felt it was quite mutual.”
He said Pierce had also worked as a junior football coach.
It’s unclear if Pierce was a registered driving instructor.
“(He’s the) sort of person (where if) there’s any opportunity to help a neighbour or someone else out, he takes it,” the defence said.
“He’s given other people driving lessons and they’ve given reference to say there’s never been any inappropriate (behaviour) at all.”
Ms Prapas said Pierce should not be near “anyone” to teach them how to drive.
“The concern that I have is that putting or making the complainants (as) the initiators is the sort of response that you tend to hear from people with a particular paraphilia,” she said.
“(The victims) are particularly vulnerable young men.”
Pierce will be sentenced on October 22.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au
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