How an English teacher was caught allegedly having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with her 15-year-old student
An elite private school teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old boy was caught after the teenager’s father found text messages.
Ella Clements, 24, who is an English teacher at St Augustine’s College in Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, was charged with three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child 14-16 and one count of intentionally sexually touching a child 14-16.
Clements is on remand after she was arrested on September 16 with a final decision on whether she receives bail to be made on Thursday.
The teacher was allegedly in a sexual relationship with her 15-year-old student in the 12 months prior to her arrest.
It’s alleged Clements’ suspected conduct was uncovered by the boy’s father who discovered text messages on his son’s phone while they sat at the dining table.
The family apparently had a ‘phones on table’ policy, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
St Augustine’s principal Jonathan Byrne said in a letter to parents that the college had been working with authorities concerning their investigation into Clements.
He said the teacher was stood down and later terminated when the college became aware of the allegations against her.
Ella Clements, 24, has been charged with charged with three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child 14-16
Clements taught at St Augustine’s in Brookvale (pictured)
The principal asked parents to remain calm despite the investigation.
‘As a parent I acknowledge an investigation like this will cause anxiety,’ he wrote.
‘We continue to work with police and relevant authorities and, in the meantime, our focus is on ensuring the privacy and wellbeing of the student and family.
‘If you have not been contacted, your son is not currently part of the active investigation.’
The principal also explained he was limited in what information could be divulged due to privacy concerns.
The judicial process ‘must be allowed to run its natural course’, he added.
Staff and students from St Augustine’s have also been counselled against sharing information about the alleged incident online.
Clements, a former Catholic schoolgirl and drama student, studied to be a drama teacher at university.
Clements was initially granted bail after a brief appearance at Manly Local Court on Monday
The 2018 Brigidine College St Ives graduate and drama captain performed in several musicals while at the school, including George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
Clements was initially granted bail after a brief appearance at Manly Local Court on Monday.
Magistrate Daniel Reiss imposed conditions including Clements reside in Ballina, on the NSW north coast, with her parents, subject to a 9pm to 5am curfew.
Clements was also forbidden from contacting any St Augustine’s staff and students and ordered to abstain from social media and smartphone use.
The court also ordered two acceptable persons had to deposit a $100,000 surety each before Clements could be released.
However, prosecutors were so determined to remand her in custody they requested a Section 40 stay on the decision, which gives the bail application three days to be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
