SYDNEY, Australia — A pregnant teacher accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old student after allegedly grooming him broke down in tears during a court appearance Friday as she was granted bail due to her high-risk pregnancy.
Karly Rae, 36, appeared visibly distressed during the NSW Supreme Court hearing via video link, sobbing silently when Justice Dhanji mentioned her pregnancy while considering bail conditions. The special needs teacher faces multiple charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a student at her school.
Rae is accused of having sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old pupil on October 4, shortly before her arrest at her New South Wales home in October. Court documents indicate she allegedly groomed the student prior to the sexual assault, though the boy was not enrolled in her special needs program and is not believed to be the father of her unborn child.
The emotional court session revealed the extent of Rae’s alleged attempts to cover up the incident. After initially being granted bail following her October arrest, she was returned to custody in January for allegedly contacting the victim in violation of a domestic violence order.
Prosecutors told the court that on January 14, Rae called the alleged victim five times within two hours, attempting to persuade him to provide false testimony about their encounters. Instead of complying, the teenager informed his mother about the contact and reported it to police, leading to additional charges against Rae.
The court heard that Rae’s emotional state appeared to deteriorate during the four months she spent in custody following her re-arrest. Justice Dhanji noted her pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and a history of miscarriages, contributed to the decision to grant bail.
“The applicant is 23 weeks pregnant, due to give birth in September,” Justice Dhanji stated during the hearing, at which point Rae was observed crying on the video link. The judge emphasized that her pregnancy was considered high-risk due to medical complications.
However, the court ruled that due to the serious nature of the allegations, Rae’s child will be unable to remain with her if she returns to custody. This ruling appeared to add to her emotional distress during the proceedings.
Rae has been placed under strict home detention with at least 14 bail conditions, including a complete ban on social media use and requirements to report to Toronto Police Station three times weekly. Justice Dhanji noted that she is “no longer able to work as a teacher” and stated it was “highly improbable” she would reoffend.
The charges against Rae include aggravated sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16, grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity, and possession of child abuse material. Additional charges of acting to pervert the course of justice and breaching a violence order were added following the alleged witness intimidation attempts.
Earlier this week, Rae appeared via video link at Newcastle Magistrates Court where she entered not guilty pleas to all five charges. Her emotional state was also noted during that appearance, though she maintained her composure better than during Friday’s Supreme Court hearing.
The case has shocked the local education community, with colleagues describing the allegations as completely out of character for someone they knew as a dedicated special needs educator. The school has implemented additional safeguarding measures following the arrest.
Rae’s defense team has indicated their client is struggling emotionally with both the legal proceedings and her pregnancy complications. They have not commented on the specifics of the case but emphasized her presumption of innocence.
The emotional toll of the proceedings was evident as Rae’s family members were seen comforting each other outside the courthouse following Friday’s hearing. Her pregnancy has added complexity to the case, with medical professionals monitoring her condition throughout the legal process.
The case will proceed to trial in the District Court, with arraignment scheduled for July. Given Rae’s emotional state and pregnancy, the court may need to consider special accommodations during trial proceedings.
the-sun.com
