A Wellington teacher manipulated a 14-year-old student into a sexual act by posing as a drug dealer named “Joseph,” exploiting her with offers of cannabis and cash.
Their relationship, initially fostered through Facebook messages and lunch outings, escalated when the teacher supplied her with cannabis at a bus stop.
Days later, disguised in a makeshift mask, he met her again, claiming to be “Joseph,” and coerced her into performing oral sex for more drugs and money during a meeting at a local school.
After further attempts to arrange meetings using a fake profile the teacher pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges including unlawful sexual communication and drug supply, receiving nine months’ home detention and permanent name suppression.
Though he voluntarily stopped teaching in 2020 amid a police investigation, the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal permanently revoked his registration last year, condemning his actions as serious misconduct that discredited the profession and harmed the student.
Charming. I personally think those who do first hand harm are worse than image collectors and yet, somehow they get lighter sentences? Makes no sense to me.