College ‘not defined’ by scandal

A man whose son was approached by a teacher at the centre of a college sex scandal in Marlborough says possibly dozens of other, older students have also been caught up in the woman’s ‘‘nasty pattern’’ of abuse.

The father, who Stuff agreed not to name to protect his son’s identity, says his teenage son refused the woman’s advances two days before someone else complained about the teacher in May. But the man’s son was older than the legal sex age of 16, which meant the woman’s behaviour towards him was not illegal under the Child Protection Act but rather a breach of the Teaching Council Code and Standards.

The woman in her 30s, who cannot be named, admitted seven counts of having sex with minors, and two of sending sexual images and video to minors, at the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday. She was convicted and bailed to a sentencing date of December 17.

The father said that through his discussions with other parents he estimated the woman had targeted dozens of students over nearly four years. ‘‘I talked to my son when this all came out and asked him how many boys were involved. He said: Dad, this is years’ worth of stuff ... My jaw just dropped.

‘‘And I thought, this is massively shocking ... So I can’t honestly put a number on it but it is a lot more than what the courts are saying, or what she has been divulging.’’

He was relieved his son felt able to tell him about the woman, even if it was not straight away, he said.

‘‘I am just glad my son knows he

And I said: you left your mate in the car? And he said: well he wasn’t getting out.’’

The teacher appeared to have ‘‘a nasty pattern’’, approaching students in the back seat of her car, he said.

‘‘It is just yucky.’’

The police summary of facts said the woman built a close friendship with a boy aged under 16 in 2017. She started taking him out of school at lunchtimes to have sex in the back seat of her car, saying she would fix his attendance if he missed classes.

Sometimes they would have sex after school on Fridays, when she was waiting to pick up her child.

She would drive to car parks at reserves around Blenheim, and on one occasion during the Christmas holidays last year they had sex in a primary school car park.

The woman told the boy she loved

A school whose former teacher had sex with students in the back seat of her car, sometimes on lunchtime outings, says it ‘‘will not be defined’’ by the sex scandal.

The school board chairman has released a statement following the woman’s appearance in court on Tuesday, where she admitted having sex with two students at some of Blenheim’s parks and sending naked photographs to one of the boys.

‘‘Her actions breached the trust of so many and it is appropriate that she has taken sole responsibility by pleading guilty,’’ the board chairman said.

‘‘The guilty plea ensures justice is provided for all those impacted, and we hope it will support closure for them.’’

The statement was also sent out to parents of college students on Wednesday.

‘‘We would like to also thank the community for their support during these past few months.

‘‘This will not define our college but rather we have grown stronger and even more resolved to be the very best we can be for the sake of our boys and our community.’’

The woman in her 30s, who cannot be named, admitted seven charges of sexual relations with minors and two charges of sending sexual material to minors, at the Blenheim District Court.

She was convicted and issued a first strike warning, which means harsher penalties for repeat offenders of serious violent and sexual crimes.

She was remanded on bail, to be sentenced on December 17.

The board chairman asked for ongoing privacy for all those affected by the offending.

‘‘I am very thankful that this matter will be concluded before the end of the year for the sake of our community, staff, parents and boys.’’

He thanked police and all of the other agencies involved in the case for their diligence and ‘‘their care during this very difficult time’’.

‘‘The board would also like to thank [the principal] and all college staff for their support of our students and ensuring that this did not impact on the wider student body of our college.’’