Teacher admits abusing 11 of his pupils

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A teacher at a private Auckland school has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 11 of his pupils, some as young as 9.

The 63-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 charges of indecent assault when he appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday.

According to court documents the abuse happened between 2007 and this year.

Judge Anne Kiernan continued his interim name suppression to protect the identity of the school and his victims.

Both the police and the teacher's lawyer, Anthony Rogers, supported
the suppression order to allow the possibility of a restorative justice session.

It is unusual for someone facing such charges to take part in a restorative justice programme.

Judge Kiernan also warned the teacher that his conviction counted as a "first strike" under the three strikes law.

An offender receives a normal sentence and a warning for strike one, a sentence without parole for strike two, and the maximum sentence for that offence, without parole, for strike three.

The school principal, who also cannot be named, said the victims were back in class.

"They are working well. Obviously, I wouldn't use the word 'happy' - no one is happy about a situation like this."

He said parents and teachers had been supportive about how the school dealt with the situation.

The school sacked the teacher after a complaint from a student and an emergency meeting of the board.

The case was then referred to the police.

Asked if the school would support a restorative justice programme, the principal said it would be up to the teacher and the families of his victims.

While the school believed in forgiveness, it also believed in consequences for wrongdoing, he said.

The school wanted to support the teacher while recognising "the horror of what took place".

"It's been a tightrope to walk," the principal said.

The Teachers Council has been alerted to the case and the identity of the teacher.

Council director Peter Lind said the man had signed a voluntary undertaking not to teach.

He said his organisation was awaiting the outcome of the court case before making any decision.

Mr Rogers said it was not appropriate to comment because the matter was still before the courts.

The teacher will be sentenced in September.

Five other teachers around the country have been banned from the profession this year after being found guilty of sexually abusing children.

The cases involve charges ranging from indecent acts through to sexual violation on a range of victims aged between 7 and 12.

The teachers, most of whom are serving jail sentences for their crimes, were all deregistered by the Teachers Council after disciplinary hearings.