Teacher faces indecent assault charge

An Auckland teacher has faced court charged with the indecent assault of a teenage girl from his school.

The teacher, who has name suppression, appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday before Judge David McNaughton. The school also has name supression.

The teacher, 41, was arrested last Thursday, more than eight years after the indecent assaults are alleged to have occurred.

The Herald understands the man has been teaching at the school since the alleged incidents took place - and that there may be other victims.

He is charged with indecently assaulting the girl while she was a student at the school from February 1, 2001-September 21, 2002. She was then aged 14 and 15. Judge McNaughton asked the police prosecutor if there were any other victims. He was told: "Yes, Sir, there are further inquiries going on."

Judge McNaughton gave no reason for making the suppression orders but said there would have to be a "substantive" argument for them to continue.

"The interests of the school and the interests of the defendant are not the only interests."

The teacher, a Pakeha, appeared in the dock dressed in a black suit, with a white shirt and coloured tie.

He was released on bail with conditions stating that he must reside at his home, which is near the school, that he does not contact the victim and two other women, and that he is not to supervise anyone aged under 16 years. It is believed the teacher was stood down from the school after his arrest.

The school's principal said yesterday there was very little he could say on the matter. "I'm absolutely locked out of saying anything."

Asked whether the teacher was still teaching at the school, he said: "He's not here at the moment and that's really the only thing I can tell you".

New Zealand Teachers Council director Dr Peter Lind said he could not comment on the case specifically.

However, generally speaking, a teacher under the circumstances described would be suspended on pay while the matter was before the courts.

A Complaints Assessment Committee would consider if the teacher had met serious misconduct criteria and the matter could go on to the Disciplinary Tribunal which could cancel a teacher's registration, he said.

Dr Lind said most decisions depended on the outcome of the court case so it was normal for this process to take time.

The teacher, whose registration is still valid, will appear in the North Shore District Court again next month.