Teacher Craig Liefting jailed for sexually assaulting female students at Victorian school
A popular Victorian primary school teacher who sexually assaulted two students in his classroom has been punished for his crimes but not before making a claim which led a judge to regard him as a “high risk” of reoffending.
South East
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A Victorian primary school teacher who sexually assaulted two students has been regarded a “high risk” of reoffending after he claimed one victim was a “willing participant”.
Craig Liefting, 49, was sentenced in the County Court today to a minimum three years and six months jail after pleading guilty to three child sex charges.
Liefting’s victims were primary school students he taught in the past decade.
Liefting’s lewd acts on both victims occurred in a classroom and his office.
He assaulted a victim in front of other students, the court heard.
Liefting assaulted the other victim multiple times over a two-year period, the court heard.
He made the girl sit under his desk and commit lewd acts.
Liefting also offended against the girl – who said she felt “broken and used” – during a school-sanctioned event.
An education support worker witnessed Liefting at the school in a compromising position with a student in 2016.
The court heard the principal conducted an “internal investigation” but Liefting – who denied the allegation – remained at the school.
Liefting was known to favour certain students, the court heard.
Liefting was teaching at Wonthaggi Primary School by the time he was under police investigation in late-2019.
He was suspended by the Victorian Institute of Teaching not long after but will never work as a teacher again after today’s sentencing.
He told a psychologist one of his victims was a “willing and consenting participant”.
Liefting also said the offending was“sexually gratifying” and “emotionally fulfilling”.
The psychologist said Liefting suffered from a “pedophilic disorder” which meant he was a “moderate-high” risk of reoffending when released.
Liefting, a father of two, received character references from a former partner, and his dad.
The ex-partner said Liefting was a “decent man” who was “very sorry”, his dad said the offending was “out of character”.
Judge Anne Hassan said Liefting committed a “gross breach of trust”.
“Your victims were completely defenceless and no doubt confused and distressed about what was happening to them at the hands of their teacher,” she said.
Judge Hassan was also concerned about Liefting’s prospect of rehabilitation given his comments regarding consent.
Liefting’s school peers later said his conduct with students made them “uncomfortable”.
Colleagues said Liefting used a gym ball as a teaching seat and would often sit “open legged” near students.
The court heard Liefting often acted “affectionate” to the girls and “quite rough” with the boys.
Liefting was also seen at the school with a tube of thick lubricant he carried in a “particular bag”.
Liefting was jailed for a maximum five years and six months.
He was placed on the sex offender registry for life.
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