Private school teacher who had sex with her 17-year-old student is jailed for at least two years

‘Manipulative’ private school English teacher, 43, who had sex with her 17-year-old student is jailed for at least two years

  • Former private school teacher found guilty of a sexual relationship with student 
  • Sonia Mackay was sentenced to four years and fives months jail on Wednesday
  • Court heard she had a sexual relationship with 17-year-old student 
  • Her sentence included a non-parole period of two years and one month

An Adelaide private school English teacher who admitted to having a sexual relationship with one of her students has been jailed for more than two years.

Sonia Mackay, 43, faced the District Court for sentence on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the persistent sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old boy.

In sentencing, Judge Liesl Chapman said Mackay struck up a sexual relationship with a student in her English class.

Sonia Mackay, 43, (pictured right) faced the District Court for sentence on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the persistent sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old boy

The family of Sonia Mackay pictured leave the District court in Adelaide after her conviction on Wednesday 

The family of Sonia Mackay pictured leave the District court in Adelaide after her conviction on Wednesday 

Over the course of a month, the pair also drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes and cannabis together, and Mackay bought the boy presents and a nose piercing.

The boy’s parents became suspicious and approached the school principal, who reported the matter to police.

When confronted by his mother, the victim admitted the sexual relationship and said he was in love with Mackay.

Judge Chapman said it was clear Mackay’s crimes had devastated the victim and his family.

‘Your behaviour was manipulative and unforgivable,’ she told Mackay.

‘You seem to have lost touch with reality and were living in some sort of fantasy land.’

Judge Chapman sentenced Mackay to four years, fives months in jail with a non-parole period of two years, one month.

In sentencing, Judge Liesl Chapman said Mackay struck up a sexual relationship with a student in her English class

In sentencing, Judge Liesl Chapman said Mackay struck up a sexual relationship with a student in her English class

In a victim impact statement read to the court during the trial, the boy said he was an ‘above-average student’ who dreamed of becoming a dentist before he began receiving personal attention from Mackay.

‘Over the following months, we spent more and more time talking and texting and I lost all focus on my studies,’ he said.

‘A life of sex and alcohol with Sonia Mackay was more appealing than reading a book and writing assignments.’

He said he withdrew from friends and family in fear of being caught and, when the relationship was discovered, he felt ashamed and embarrassed.

The boy said he had been left with emotional, financial and physical impacts of Mackay’s crime, including painful scars where she burnt his flesh with a cigarette

Judge Chapman sentenced Mackay (pictured left) to four years, fives months in jail with a non-parole period of two years, one month

Judge Chapman sentenced Mackay (pictured left) to four years, fives months in jail with a non-parole period of two years, one month

Mackay's family were present to hear her being sentenced to at least two years jail after pleading guilty to being in a sexual relationship with one of her 17 year old students 

Mackay’s family were present to hear her being sentenced to at least two years jail after pleading guilty to being in a sexual relationship with one of her 17 year old students 

‘These scars were inflicted as a way of marking me and showing that I belong to her,’ he said.

The boy’s mother told the court Mackay had called her and asked for his phone number under the guise of helping him with his school work.

She said she became worried when her son stopped coming home for days at a time.

‘I had no idea where he was sleeping, who he was with, was he safe or worse,’ she said.

‘When he attempted to come home she bought him expensive underwear and gifts so he had no excuse but to stay with her.’

Mackay will be eligible for parole in early 2021.

 

 

 

 

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