Teacher pleads guilty on sex-abuse counts

A Melbourne teacher has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a female student.

Daphney Louise Matthews, 39, pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to five sex charges involving a child under the age of 16.

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The former history and legal studies teacher at Huntingtower School had been due to appear in the court for a committal hearing of the charges until prosecutor Julian Ayres indicated the matter had been resolved after discussions with Matthews’ lawyer.

Thirteen charges against Matthews were withdrawn before she pleaded guilty to committing two indecent acts on the child by kissing and touching her, and three counts of sexual penetration of the child when she was under Matthews’ care, supervision or authority.

The offences occurred between June and December, 2009, at Daylesford and Knoxfield.

No details of what happened were given in court.

Magistrate Jan Maclean adjourned the case for a plea hearing in the County Court on November 23.

Matthews was released on bail.

Huntingtower is a co-educational Christian day and boarding school in Mount Waverley.

Matthews taught at the school for three years until her employment ended this year.

This article was written by Mark Russell  and originally published on theage