Former Altona East Primary School teacher Shane Featherston to fight sex abuse charges

A former Altona East Primary School teacher will fight accusations of sexually abusing a male student.

Shane Featherston is facing six offences including two counts of penetration of a child under the age of 16. Picture: Ian Currie

A former primary school teacher plans to fight accusations he sexually abused a male student.

Former Altona East Primary School teacher Shane Featherston, 56, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with six offences including two counts of penetration of a child under the age of 16.

He is also facing four counts of committing an indecent act with a child under the age of 16.

The alleged sex crimes occurred in 1999.

A source with knowledge of the case told the Herald Sun Mr Featherston allegedly abused the child both on school grounds and away from the school.

Mr Featherston plans to fight the accusations. Picture: Ian Currie

Charge sheets state the alleged offences occurred in both Altona and Altona North.

The court heard Mr Featherston plans to fight the charges.

His lawyer argued against the public release of the summary of allegations, citing that it contained “very sensitive matters”.

The matter will proceed to a two-day contested committal starting May 27.

The complainant will give evidence from a remote facility so he won’t have to physically face his alleged abuser.

It’s understood Mr Featherston was educated at Deakin University.

Victorian Institute of Teaching records show Mr Featherston’s teaching registration has been ceased and he is disqualified from teaching in schools.

Mr Featherston was supported in court on Friday by his partner.

His lawyer asked Magistrate Andrew McKenna if the contested committal could be shifted so Mr Featherston’s partner could attend.

The request was rejected by Mr McKenna, who said the absence of a support person for Mr Featherston “wasn’t a sufficient matter” to warrant a delay to the hearing.