Cairns crime: Far North teacher Pierre Joseph Wong sentenced on fresh charge after winning appeal against rape conviction

A Far North teacher who was found guilty of rape who had his conviction overturned, has has admitted to a fresh charge in Cairns District Court.

Former teacher Pierre Joseph Wong, 62, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault in Cairns District Court on January 29. The Queensland Court of Appeal overturned a previous rape conviction over the incident which took place in 2017. Picture: Supplied

A Far North teacher who served more than two years in prison for rape pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in Cairns District Court on Monday.

Pierre Joseph Wong, 62, was found guilty of raping a woman in July 2020, over an incident that took place in November 2017, but the conviction was overturned.

Wong served from July 30, 2020, to November 24, 2022, in Lotus Glen – two years and four months.

Prosecutor Emily Thambyah said Wong was offered the opportunity to plead guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated sexual assault a year ago, and, representing himself, he declined.

Witnesses were organised and a jury assembled for a trial to start on Monday but Wong, represented by fresh counsel, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and the Crown withdrew the rape charge.

Former teacher Pierre Joseph Wong, 62, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault in Cairns District Court on January 29. The Queensland Court of Appeal overturned a previous rape conviction over the incident which took place in 2017. Picture: Supplied

Ms Thambyah said Wong entered the room where the woman was asleep with her partner and performed oral sex on her.

She said the woman was at her most vulnerable as she was asleep and it was a breach of trust as they were friends.

The woman asked what he was doing, started yelling, and her partner woke and chased Wong to another room in the house.

The woman went to police about five days later but did not lodge a formal complaint until Wong reappeared in the remote community where he worked for the new school term.

Cairns District Court heard Pierre Joseph Wong, 62, had shown little remorse over the offending against a friend. Picture: Supplied

Judge Tracy Fantin noted the judge at the 2020 trial had stated it was an extremely strong prosecution case and there was a distinct lack of remorse shown by Wong, who received a three-year sentence.

Ms Thambyah said it was a late plea and Wong was offered the plea deal last February, with the prosecutor’s office indicating it would not seek that he serve further time, but he rejected it.

Pierre Joseph Wong, 62, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault in Cairns District Court on Monday. Picture: Supplied

Freshly-appointed defence barrister James Godbolt told the court Wong had no previous criminal history and time had elapsed since the offence with no suggestion of further offending.

The court heard he was intoxicated at the time.

“It would be an understatement to say he was poorly advised very poorly represented,” Mr Godbolt said.

Judge Fantin noted the woman initially thought it was her partner but put her hand on his head and realised it was a bald head, and the man said “it’s me, Pierre”.

She said the woman had suffered significant adverse impacts.

Imposing a sentence of two years prison, Judge Fantin declared from July 30, 2020 to July 30, 2022 as time already served.

At the trial, Wong claimed he had no memory of what had taken place but Judge Brad Farr said his behaviour was not consistent with amnesia.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Far North teacher Pierre Joseph Wong sentenced on fresh charge after winning appeal against rape conviction