Victorian teachers convicted for sickening sex offences
These educators have been stripped of their right to teach after being charged with shocking sexual offences. Here are some of Victoria’s worst.
Police & Courts
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Several Victorian teachers have been stripped of their right to teach after being charged with shocking criminal offences.
In the past year, these teachers have been convicted by the courts after being charged with a slew of sexual offences, some spanning several years.
Depraved and disturbing acts include a former Wantirna teacher blaming Covid lockdowns for having sex with a student at her home.
Other sickening incidents include a teacher who sent explicit images to his 14-year-old student.
The teachers’ registrations have been cancelled or suspended by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
PETER COCEANI
Peter Charles Coceani, 44, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates Court in May to engaging in an indecent act with a child aged between 16 and 17.
Coceani, who was suspended by the Victorian Institute of Teaching in 2021, taught in schools for 20 years.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie convicted Coceani, ordered he pay a $5000 fine and placed him on the sex offender register for eight years.
TIMOTHY CORDOVA
Timothy Cordova, 28, was sentenced at the County Court in December to four years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 20 months after he encouraged 14 young victims to send him sexually explicit photos and videos.
In handing down his sentence, Judge Gavan Meredith said Cordova deserved a reduced sentence because he had shown “significant gains” in his sexual offender treatment.
Over a five-month period in 2020, Cordova created four fake social media profiles including an Instagram account purporting to be a 14-year-old girl named “Matilda Roberts” to trick his victims who were aged between 11 and 16.
AZAR RAHMATZADEH
Azar Rahmatzadeh, 45, sat just metres away from the teenage boy and his parents in the County Court in May as she was sentenced to a minimum of one year jail after pleading guilty to the sexual penetration of a child under 16.
The Croydon woman, who blamed loneliness caused by Covid lockdowns for plying the boy full of booze and having sex with him at her home, attempted to make one last apology to the family in court but was ignored as she was ushered into custody.
Numerous character references from long term colleagues and friend’s which painted Rahmatzadeh as “caring” and “compassionate” friend and teacher also weighed into the judgment, Judge Anne Hassan said.
She was handed a maximum sentence of two years and six months.
MONIQUE OOMS
Monique Ooms, 31, fronted the Latrobe Valley County Court in May, where she admitted four acts of sexual penetration with the teenage boy between July 1 and August 8 last year.
Ooms was placed on a four-year community correction order, where she will have to complete 300 hours of unpaid community work and continue to undergo mental health treatment and rehabilitation.
She will also have to report to authorities on the sex offenders register for life.
DAVID CARNIE
David Carnie, 51, was sentenced to four years and eight months behind bars in June, 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.
BRIAN WALLWORK
Former Eltham College teacher Brian Wallwork, 48, at the County Court was sentenced to two years and 10 months’ behind bars in December, of which one year and four months was suspended after he pleaded guilty to four child sex offences.
Wallwork, who worked at St Peter’s College in Cranbourne East as recently as last year, used his role as a musical ensemble organiser to prey upon the students who were more than 15 years younger than him.
The girls were not students from his high school. In handing down her sentence, Judge Martine Marich said Wallwork had good prospects for rehabilitation as the crimes occurred approximately 15 years ago and he had not offended since.
LOCKSLEY CHRISTY
Locksley Christy, a married father of two, claimed he was lonely and isolated during the Covid pandemic when he began having secret online conversations with the girl in 2020.
The Peninsula-based physical education teacher was starting out in his teaching career having only graduated, with honours, from a Bachelor of Education in 2019.
Christy, 27, pleaded guilty to grooming a child aged under 16.
Melbourne magistrate Donna Bakos convicted Christy in November and ordered that he complete a two-year Community Correction Order, including 200 hours of unpaid community work.
Christy must also undergo mental health treatment and rehabilitation; and take part in offender behaviour programs.
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