Teacher David Carnie jailed for sex with student

An English teacher from Melbourne’s east who had sex with a student blamed her “messed up” mental health when he was confronted with his crimes.

David Carnie groomed and filmed himself having sex with student. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A former Melbourne high school teacher has been jailed for grooming and filming himself having sex with a vulnerable student.

David Carnie, 51, was sentenced to four years and eight months behind bars on Friday after pleading guilty to five charges including sexual penetration of a child and involving a child in the production of abuse material.

In his sentencing remarks, County Court Judge John Carmody said the former English and drama teacher at a school in Melbourne’s east preyed upon a female student who struggled with mental health issues and bullying.

“The effect of your offending on (her) has been significant, in a negative way,” he said.

“That will remain with her for the rest of her life.”

The court heard the student, who was more than 30 years Carnie’s junior, saw him as a “father figure” and he encouraged her to open up to him.

But he began sending her sexually explicit messages on social media before organising to meet her at the school during the holidays.

Carnie will be a registered sex offender for life. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

There he tried kissing her but stopped after she told him she was scared.

The teacher continued sending the girl explicit messages, including nude photos, before she agreed to have sex with him.

Over the following 18 months, they had sex in Carnie’s car and in a cupboard in the school’s drama room on 30 to 40 occasions.

He never used a condom and when the girl asked, he told her not to worry because he had it “sorted”.

“I thought I should trust him because he was an adult,” she later said.

Carnie also filmed and took photos of some of the abuse and sent it to the girl.

He stopped seeing her after revealing he did not have feelings for her and was only doing it for sex.

She later reported him to police and Carnie was arrested in July last year.

Carnie initially denied grooming the girl and blamed her mental health.

“Why did she turn around and say I did this to her in high school, I don’t know,” he told police.

“I don’t want to use the words messed up … but she needed a lot of support and medication to get through high school.”

But he later admitted to his crimes.

Carnie was assessed by a forensic psychologist who found he did not have pedophilic tendencies but lacked insight into personal boundaries.

Judge Carmody said Carnie was a trusted teacher and confidante to the student but he breached that trust for his own sexual gratification.

As Carnie was removed from the dock following the sentence, Judge Carmody spoke directly to the student who was seated in court.

“Nothing I’ve said can change what happened to you,” he said.

“Today’s the first day of the rest of your life.”

Carnie, who has spent 99 days in prison, will be eligible for parole after three years.

He will also be a registered sex offender for life.