Troubled teen 'counselled' with sex in classroom

File photo / APN

A teacher "counselled" a student who was in a relationship with a relative by having sex with her at lunchtime on the classroom floor.

The incident was one of three times the teacher had sex with the senior student, who had spoken to him about an inappropriate relationship she had with a close relative.

The teacher, who is married, responded by telling the girl about his own personal problems. He considered referring her to the school counsellor but instead started sending text and email messages of a strong sexual nature.

He later met the girl in the early hours at an isolated carpark and had sex with her in his car before having sex with her twice more at school on the classroom floor with the doors locked. No contraception was used on at least one of the occasions.

The girl, who was studying NCEA level 2, eventually went to police saying she had been raped but the teacher was not prosecuted.

His case was, however, referred to the Teachers Council disciplinary tribunal, which has this week released its findings into his conduct.

The council said the teacher accepted his conduct could be seen to be inappropriate but denied being a predator or taking advantage of the girl.

He instead rationalised his initial contact with her by "telling himself that he was counselling her because of the relationship she had with a close relative".

The council ruled that the case was "extremely serious" and cancelled his teacher's registration.

"The [teacher] was aware of the student's troubled background, including an inappropriate sexual relationship.

"Notwithstanding that, he embarked on a full sexual relationship with her, including having sexual intercourse with her behind locked doors on school grounds within school hours.

"[His] behaviour brings seriously into question his fitness to teach and endangered the wellbeing and learning of the student in question."

The case was one of 28 before the council this year - nearly three times more than last year.

Teachers Council director Dr Peter Lind said it was important to note that while the number of cases coming before the board had increased, it was only an "incredibly small" percentage of the 96,000 registered teachers.

In another decision released this week, a teacher's practising certificate was suspended for 12 months after he sent a series of inappropriate text messages to a student contacted through Facebook, including one which said "wakey, wakey hand off snakey". The teacher was also dismissed from the school he taught at.