Wife killer Chris Dawson sentenced for unlawful sexual relationship with student in 1980s

Convicted wife killer Chris Dawson has been jailed for three years for having an illegal sexual relationship with his student in the 1980s.

Convicted wife killer Chris Dawson has been jailed for a maximum of three years for having an illegal sexual relationship with his student in the 1980s.

Dawson sat with his head leaning on his hands as he learned his fate via audiovisual link from prison.

Earlier this year, the 74-year-old faced a judge-alone trial in the NSW District Court, where he was found guilty of carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old pupil.

The girl was Dawson’s physical education student at a Sydney’s northern beaches high school in 1980 when he began a relationship with the teenager, referred to as AB.

Chris Dawson and Lynette Dawson, hi former wife he was convicted of killing. Picture: Supplied

The timing of that relationship was central to the trial because it was only illegal if it began when the girl was 16 and Dawson’s student. Dawson’s legal team unsuccessfully argued it started after the teenager’s 17th birthday.

Today, Judge Sarah Huggett sentenced Dawson to a maximum of three years in prison for carnal knowledge, with a non-parole period of two years.

That will increase the non-parole period Dawson is already serving for the murder of his wife, Lynette Dawson, by one year.

A card Dawson gave to AB, which was tendered to court.

In December 2 last year, Dawson was sentenced to 24 years in prison with a non-parole period of 18 years after he was found guilty of murdering Lynette in 1982.

When sentencing Dawson for murder, Justice Ian Harrison said Dawson would likely die in jail as he would be eligible for parole when he is 92-years-old. Now, he will be eligible for parole in 2041, when he is 93.

In sentencing Dawson, Judge Huggett said he abused his trust and groomed AB, including by singling her out for attention, telling her she is beautiful and making an effort to have her in his class.

She said his grooming, which included put his hand on her knee at a school carnival, happened while she was “somewhat vulnerable”.

Chris Dawson at an earlier court appearance (l) and with Lynette Dawson decades ago (r).

“The offence was not entirely spontaneous nor the result of something that occurred opportunistically; it was the result of some forethought and planning,” Judge Huggett said.

“He took the victim from the northern beaches to the eastern suburbs where he knew they’d be alone. He took her to his parent’s bedroom where the offence was committed.”

While Dawson sought to ensure AB was “comfortable all the way,” Judge Huggett said there was a “degree of manipulation and exploitation in asserting what he was doing was something the victim needed and would be helpful”.

Judge Huggett found the offence to be of “somewhat lesser seriousness” than other examples of the historic charge, which included carnal knowledge committed by a parent, but said moral culpability remained high.

She said Dawson is entitled to maintain his innocence, as he had done, but this meant there was no evidence of remorse.

During sentencing submissions, Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard told the court Dawson exploited AB’s vulnerability — including going to the local pub she would visit with friends on Friday nights and comforting her about her difficult home life — and said to her after the first inappropriate sexual activity that he “hoped it was helpful; that was a good start”.

She submitted that was all part of the grooming process and the carnal knowledge act was not committed in isolation.

Chris Dawson and his identical twin, Paul Dawson. Picture: 60 Minutes/9 NEWS

When Judge Huggett delivered her guilty verdict in June, Dawson could be heard muttering “f***k” several times on his audiovisual link from prison.

She said she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt he committed carnal knowledge, noting two cards Dawson gave AB and which were “completely inconsistent” with a romantic relationship only starting.

One was a Christmas card sent in 1980, in which Dawson signed off as “God,” and the other given on her 17th birthday in early 1981 referred to AB as “the most beautiful girl in the world”.

The judge-alone trial was heard before Judge Sarah Huggett. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Himbrechts

The court heard Dawson referred to himself as “God” to disguise their relationship.

A friend of AB’s told the court during the trial Dawson had shoved and threatened him when he asked AB on a date in 1980.

Other evidence relied upon was that AB was seen sitting on Dawson’s lap in his office in 1980, and towards the end of the year he said he loved her and wanted to marry her.

A card allegedly given to AB by Chris Dawson. Picture: Supplied

While mostly remaining cool, calm and collected as she gave evidence, AB grew visibly frustrated at the prodding of her recollection of dates and events by defence lawyer Claire Wasley at one point during the trial.

When Ms Wasley suggested a memory regarding the first time she and Dawson had sexual activity was “made up in the witness box just now,” AB said through tears that she doesn’t “make things up”.

“This happened to me and I’m so sick of this, having to justify everything I say … I know it’s just your job, but this is my life, and this happened to me, and I want something done about it,” she said.

Throughout the high-profile proceedings over Lynette Dawson’s death, Dawson’s legal team argued the 33-year-old mother walked out on the family after her trust was broken due to her husband’s behaviour.

Dawson’s lawyers have lodged an intention to appeal his guilty verdict for her murder.