Convicted wife killer Chris Dawson has been jailed for a maximum of three years for grooming and sexually abusing a teenager in the 1980s.
The former teacher, 75, pursued an unlawful sexual relationship with the 16-year-old student he met at a Sydney high school, initially getting her placed into his class and later writing a double entendre in her report card that she was a “pleasure to teach”.
Chris Dawson, pictured in May 2022.Credit: Nick Moir
On Friday, Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard told the NSW District Court that Dawson “took steps to actively groom” the vulnerable teenager and exploited his knowledge of her turbulent home life. Blizard said the offence was not spontaneous and jail was the only appropriate sentence.
Judge Sarah Huggett said Dawson was aged about 32 at the time of his offence and singled the girl out, telling her she was beautiful and encouraging her to confide in him. She said this involved an abuse of his position of trust and authority.
The judge said Dawson maintains his innocence, which he is entitled to do. However, this means there is no evidence that he is contrite or remorseful for his actions.
Judge Sarah Huggett sentences Chris Dawson on Friday.Credit: Damian Shaw
Huggett jailed him for three years, with a non-parole period of two years, with the sentence to begin in August 2039.
Dawson is currently serving a sentence of 24 years, with a non-parole period of 18 years, for murdering his wife Lynette in 1982. The new sentence adds one year to his previous non-parole period. He is first eligible for release in 2041, when he will be 93.
The former teacher watched Friday’s proceedings from Long Bay jail, wearing a green zip-up prison jacket. He waved to his lawyers before the hearing commenced, then steepled his fingers in front of his face and rested his forehead on his hands.
Dawson was convicted in June of one count of carnal knowledge of a student aged between 10 and 17 who was his pupil, after facing a judge-alone trial.
He became a sports teacher at Cromer High School in 1979 and began a sexual relationship with the 16-year-old, who cannot be named, some time between July and December 1980.
Dawson engaged in sexual activity with the girl at his parents’ home in Maroubra and was seen by other students at the school getting close to her, including having her sit on his lap.
He muttered the expletive “f---” to himself five times when Huggett found him guilty on June 28, and filed a notice of intention to appeal less than a week later.
Dawson has also filed an appeal against his sentence for murdering Lynette. Last year, Justice Ian Harrison found Dawson killed his wife to be free to pursue an unfettered relationship with the teenage student.
The former student has separately filed a civil claim against the state of NSW, arguing she is entitled to damages because the school did not do enough to protect her from being groomed and sexually abused by Dawson.
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