A former teacher at a regional West Australian school who abused a 16-year-old female student for "her own sexual gratification" has been sentenced to more than four years jail.
The now 42-year-old woman, who the ABC has chosen not to name to protect the identity of her victim, pleaded guilty to six child sex abuse charges, before being convicted by a District Court jury of a seventh count last week.
The offences happened more than a decade ago, over eight months when the victim was in her final year of school.
The abuse was the teacher's first same-sex experience.
Sporting trip start of abuse
The court heard one of the offences, a count of sexual penetration, was when the teenager lost her virginity.
While she was over the age of consent and not actually taught by the woman that year, the sexual activity was illegal because as a teacher, the victim was regarded to be under her "care, supervision or authority".
The woman also coached some of the sports teams the victim was on, and the abuse started during a sporting trip to WA's Great Southern region.
After that incident, the victim sent a text message apologising for "the position" she had put the teacher in, but she replied, "I don't regret it".
The other three occasions of abuse occurred at the woman's home and in her car.
Judge John Prior described the offences as "persistent", "premeditated" and "a gross breach of trust".
He noted the teacher was aware that what she was doing was "wrong and unlawful", but said she was sexually attracted to the victim.
"I accept [the victim] was a willing participant, but she was 16, and you were 15 years older," Judge Prior told the woman.
"I don't find there was any coercion, but there was a significant power imbalance.
Victim felt 'exploited and isolated'
"She was a vulnerable victim. She idolised you as a teacher … and a friend.
"You committed the offences for your own sexual gratification."
He described the victim's impact statement, which she read aloud to the court last week, as eloquently detailing the significant and ongoing impact the offences had on her, including feeling "exploited and isolated".
In her evidence to the court, the woman had described now feeling guilty, ashamed, and disappointed in her actions, and Judge Prior accepted that she was now remorseful and a low risk of reoffending.
However, he said general deterrence was an important factor.
"Parents and the public expect that children who are in the care of teachers … will not be subjected to physical, psychological or sexual abuse," he said.
"Parents rely on teachers for the proper education and guidance of their children."
Judge Prior said the offences were so serious that only an immediate jail term, of four years and four months, was appropriate.
The woman, who will now be on the sex offenders register, will have to serve two years and four months before she is eligible for parole, meaning her first possible release date is in September 2025.
