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A woman who had a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl she was counselling has been ordered to pay $35,000 in damages to the teenager.
In a decision released by the Human Rights Review Tribunal, Janette Isaac was censured for the relationship, which began after the pair met on a professional basis in 2000 when the girl was 14.
A tribunal report said the girl, referred to as "Miss B", claimed she had suffered from sexual abuse when she was younger and her behaviour at high school included self-harm, drug use and violence towards others.
Her counselling sessions with Isaac were sparked because of family difficulties and became frequent, turning into a sexual relationship in 2001 and 2002.
By 2001 Miss B's behaviour had deteriorated to a point where she was suspended from school, but had the suspension lifted because of input from Isaac.
Miss B was referred to a local mental health service but maintained her frequent visits to Isaac to the extent where Isaac was sometimes postponing other appointments to accommodate her.
In April 2001 Miss B's mental state deteriorated to the point where she was admitted to hospital.
She later wrote a suicide note intended for Isaac which referred to her as "Aunty Janette".
Concerns were raised by both Miss B's therapist and mother about the extent of the relationship between the two, but in October the pupil moved in with Isaac and Isaac's female partner believing they were nothing more than flatmates.
The sexual relationship between Isaac and Miss B was sparked during a tramping trip involving all three.
Miss B spent time living with her own mother over the next few months but continued seeing Isaac and was later shocked to find out Isaac's flatmate was in fact also her lover of 16 years.
The situation became tense in November 2002 when Miss B tried to attack Isaac and then attempted suicide.
The tribunal said the relationship had caused Miss B to become dependent on Isaac and resulted in her becoming isolated from her friends and family.
When the relationship ended in December 2002, Miss B suffered from grief, anxiety, anger and despair and is still suffering mentally.
The tribunal ordered Isaac to pay damages to Miss B amounting to $35,000, including $25,000 for humiliation, loss of dignity and hurt feelings, and $10,000 for flagrant disregard to her personal rights.
Isaac was also ordered to pay $5000 in costs.
- NZPA
