Maltese ‘teacher-mentor’ on trial in Melbourne for sexually abusing student

The 52 year-old teacher - one of five siblings who migrated to Australia from Malta in 1964 - was married twice, has no children and resigned after his arrest.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of committing an indecent act with a minor and two counts of defilement. The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years imprisonment.

Melbourne Judge Phillip Coish banned the media from naming the teacher or the school because it could identify the girl who is still in Year 12 at the school.

Defence lawyer Anthony Lewis said the teacher was concerned if he was named then the girl could be identified and this would have an affect on her Year 12 studies.

The girl, 18, who also cannot be identified, told the Court that the teacher had been a "father figure and mentor."

When the teacher ended their relationship, she said the pain was unbearable and felt like daggers going through her. "I loved him so much," she said.

The girl hated not knowing whether to call him her boyfriend or just a friend, because she couldn't call him teacher or father.

She felt exposed at school because of rumours about her relationship with the teacher and "couldn't look anyone in the eye any more".

She was bullied but ignored her classmates and tried to be quiet in class so she wouldn't be noticed.

She had trouble sleeping, often fainted because of her over-loaded thoughts and considered suicide.

"I realise now I just wanted to have a fatherly figure," she said.

Prosecutor Louisa Dipietrantonio told the court the victim had not wanted the relationship to end because she loved the teacher.

At one stage the teacher told the girl to stop being clingy and he was concerned she was having a meltdown and would tell the school about their affair.

He told her to delete all their text messages because he could lose his job and go to jail.

The teacher told the girl to "let go emotionally" before French kissing her and lying on top of her.

On one occasion the teacher took the girl to a house he was renovating and had her sit in his lap as he groped her breasts before she performed oral sex on him.

When the teacher was arrested in February this year after the girl confided in her mother's cousin that she was emotionally and physically involved with a teacher, he told police the girl believed he was the Dad she never had.

Judge Coish said the teacher's behaviour could be regarded as predatory.

"There is arguably an element of grooming," he said.