A teacher accused of sex with a male student, 14, as often as three times in the one day allegedly sent a Snapchat image of herself lying on a bed, saying: ‘I’m waiting for you’.
Sydney geography teacher Monica Elizabeth Young, 23, will be released from prison Thursday afternoon after her lawyers launched a last ditch bid for bail at the New South Wales Supreme Court.
A hearing today heard extraordinary details of the claims against Young – including how she was allegedly busted messaging the boy by his mother, and the student’s allegations she once placed his hand down her tights in the classroom.
In arguing she should remain locked up at Silverwater Women’s Prison, Crown Prosecutor Scott Jaegar told the court that Young and the victim exchanged pictures of their genitals after their first improper encounter.
But the child’s mother then allegedly cottoned on to the fact that something was going on, Justice Stephen Campbell was told.
Monica Elizabeth Young, 23, was charged with a string of sex offences against a 14-year-old male student last month. She is pictured with her fiance, above
Justice Campbell said the allegations were ‘shocking’
‘The mother of the complainant has become suspicious about what’s been going on and who he’s been speaking to,’ Mr Jaegar said.
‘She’s seen the communication from the applicant in this matter to her 14-year-old son.’
Mr Jaegar said Young – who is engaged to married – then allegedly changed her Snapchat handle and profile.
She swapped it ‘to that of a young boy as to not to arouse suspicion in the future, should their communications be intercepted,’ the court was told.
Mr Jaegar said prosecutors were concerned Young’s release would risk her offending further because of that, and argued she shouldn’t be granted bail after a month behind bars.
Her defence barrister Ian Lloyd QC took aim at several pieces of evidence against his client – including a risque Snapchat message, claims about a tube of lubricant and the victim’s claims she put his hand on her thigh.
Mr Lloyd recalled: ‘Apparently my client had sent to the (boy) a Snapchat saying: ‘I’m waiting for you’, lying on a bed on a pillow,’ recalled Mr Lloyd.
‘That’s not dispute. There’s no suggestion she was naked or undressed, none whatsoever.
‘There’s some suggestion that found on her phone was a picture of a vagina. There’s no evidence that was her vagina.’
The court heard Ms Young (above, with her fiance) has denied the charges whatsoever – to both police and to the alleged victim’s mother
The court was told that at separate points, Young rang up the boy’s mother, and police, to deny any allegations against her.
Mr Lloyd admitted that the alleged victim and his parents didn’t want her released on bail ‘in case she acts against other children’.
But the lawyer said the boy reportedly has ‘mixed emotions and feelings’ for the teacher and was concerned for her wellbeing at Silverwater Women’s Prison.
Mr Lloyd also singled out evidence against Young about her possession of a tube of lubricant that the student had allegedly asked his friend to buy him.
‘My strong instructions are the complainant was with other boys and there was some giggling going on.
‘And she saw him with the tube of lubricant and confiscated from him … you may well think that’s appropriate to do.’
Mr Lloyd said the case against his client wasn’t ‘weak’ but said the Crown’s contention CCTV shows the boy’s ‘hand at (her) groin’ was an exaggeration.
The teacher was arrested and charged at her home earlier a month ago and has been ‘languishing’ in custody ever since, a court has heard
Monica Young denies she sexually abused a 14-year-old boy in her care at a school, which cannot be named for legal reasons
Quoting from the police fact sheet, Mr Lloyd said: ‘(The victim) says she placed his hand down her tights.
‘It’s then said this was captured by CCTV which shows the victim’s arm outstretched, his hand hidden under the table.
‘That’s the true statement of what the CCTV shows. It does not show any sexual assault.’
Life in jail has been troubling for Young, who has no criminal record, the court heard.
A prisoner in the next cell over hanged herself on Sunday, Mr Lloyd told the court.
Young offered the court a surety of $50,000 and $800,000 of her grandmother’s $1million home should she breach her bail conditions.
Justice Campbell said the allegations against Young as ‘shocking’, but noted she had a presumption of innocence.
He granted her strict conditional bail with ‘house arrest’ style conditions.