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Ballarat teacher jailed for student sex

20 Nov, 2009 11:35 AM
A FORMER Ballarat teacher has been jailed for at least two years and 10 months for having sex with two students.

Michelle Lynn Dennis, 33, had sex with the boys, aged 14 and 17, while employed as a music teacher at Ballarat High School.

The County Court at Ballarat heard Dennis sent more than 1300 text messages to the students over a two-year period.

She also sent one of the boys naked pictures of herself and invited one of his friend's to have a threesome with them, which the friend rejected.

Dennis pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual penetration of a child under supervision and one count of sexual penetration of a child under 16.

She was convicted and sentenced to four years and three months' jail, with a minimum of two years and 10 months to serve.

She was also ordered to be placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Judge Susan Cohen described Dennis' offending as ''serious'' and a ''betrayal of trust''.

''Teachers have a high ability to influence students and that gives them a responsibility not to abuse their position,'' she said.

Judge Cohen said Dennis had initiated the sexual liaisons and shown ''little remorse'' for her actions.

''Each occasion was instigated by you where you drove them somewhere inappropriate,'' she said.

Dennis sat in the dock with her head down during the hearing and cried when her sentence was read out to the court.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
First Pithouse now Cohen. Are we seeing a shift in the law courts? At least the community is starting to be considered. Well done Judge Cohen. Keep up the good work.
Posted by fish1470, 20/11/2009 12:13:26 PM
I am dissatisfied with the term of sentence, given that these despicable acts involved minors. Four years is NOT long enough. It is noted that she shows no remorse, she is a sex offender and should be punished accordingly. Four years is not satisfactory!
Posted by Nikki, 20/11/2009 12:53:00 PM
Good to hear she's behind bars!
Posted by studentfrombhs, 20/11/2009 12:55:38 PM
Couldn't The Age be bothered sending anybody?
Posted by Homerclees, 20/11/2009 1:21:28 PM
Congratulations are in order to judge. At least he has something good inside him. Convicted teacher will be good to spend her time behind the bars teaching others English literacy.
Posted by BB-Leo, 20/11/2009 1:25:13 PM
I think that was her problem she wasn't teaching English she was teaching the boys French instead.
Posted by MARK, 20/11/2009 1:30:02 PM
And if you read on through the paper there's another woman who did exactly the same thing and got off. What is Ballarat coming to? Thank god I don't live there anymore. The justice system once again fails the victims of such disgusting crimes.
Posted by ex ballarat, 20/11/2009 3:30:16 PM
Well done JudgeCohen. This paedophile showed no remorse to her victims. I hope that she doesn't appeal her sentence as she deserves what she got. It's a shame that this pervert has given Ballarat High School a bad name as it's a really good school.
Posted by Disgusted Parent, 20/11/2009 7:30:53 PM
Not long enough.
Posted by Jorgi, 20/11/2009 10:08:25 PM
Well gee, 'ex ballarat', maybe you can't actually compare the two cases. Just because both cases involved a female committing a sex act doesn't mean they are going to have the same outcomes.
Posted by Themis, 21/11/2009 1:56:26 AM
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Former Ballarat teacher Michelle Lynn Dennis arrives at court earlier this week. Picture: Lachlan Bence
Former Ballarat teacher Michelle Lynn Dennis arrives at court earlier this week. Picture: Lachlan Bence

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