A Sydney high school teacher who told her teenage student "it's dangerous if we get caught," has tearfully told a court how ashamed and embarrassed she is now for the sex acts.
Monica Elizabeth Young was 23 when she first began texting the 14-year-old boy, telling him not to tell anyone, according to the facts of the case.
She started working at the school in March 2020, shortly before the state was plunged into lockdown and online learning began.
"Students could message you up until midnight. There were no boundaries for online teaching," Young told Sydney's District Court on Thursday.
After students saw her at home they were more relaxed and comfortable when classes resumed, she said.
The teacher blocked her year nine victim from the online classroom "for inappropriate comments on the feed," she said.
But after he contacted her via Instagram, she found his Snapchat account and the two exchanged messages about the sexual acts they wished to perform on each other, and nude photographs.
When his geography classes resumed Young would dare the victim to give her a hug, saying he "didn't have the balls," if he refused.
Sexual acts occurred in empty classrooms, during a movie screening with other students nearby, and one afternoon on a staircase.
CCTV footage captured her driving to meet the teenager in a park after she messaged words to the effect "it's dangerous if we get caught, but if you do it, it'll be worth it".
But after the victim's family saw him and Young sitting in a car together, the school principal and police were contacted.
Following her arrest in July 2020, the case was set for trial but just before it was due to commence Young pleaded guilty to three charges of having sexual intercourse in aggravating circumstances as he was under her authority.
On Thursday she read a letter addressing the mother and family of her teenage victim.
"I am unable to fully express how sorry I am for my actions that have negatively impacted (the boy) and his family," she said.
"(The boy) trusted me and I abused that trust which may have severe impacts on his future. I deeply regret allowing the relationship to progress as far as it did.
"I studied for four years ... to guide young people ... but the lines got blurred."
Crown prosecutor Alexander Terracini submitted this was not spontaneous sexual abuse, and jail was the only appropriate sentence.
"On each and every incident ... you initiated the physical contact," Mr Terracini asked.
"Correct," Young said.
Young's barrister Margaret Cunneen SC said the fresh teacher was out of her depth given courses to teach that she had no training in, and no support from senior staff.
The teacher-student roles became blurred under stressors of teaching during COVID-19, Ms Cunneen said.
Medical reports cited borderline personality disorder features, while the breakdown of her engagement with another man negatively impacted her, the court was told.
Ms Cunneen submitted there was a difference between male offenders who deliberately seek out employment "where they can have access to people who form the basis of their sexual fetishes or unlawful fantasies," and female teachers such as Young.
"It may well be unusual for female teachers to come before the court having abused one of their male students but frankly ... how on earth is gender relevant?" Mr Terracini responded.
Young is due to be sentenced on July 8.
Australian Associated Press
