A BALLARAT teacher accused of sexually assaulting a male student has had his bail revoked after it was alleged he recently communicated with students through social media.Dennis Stewart, 49, was bailed last November under strict conditions including not to contact students who were enrolled at the school — which cannot be named — while he was a teacher there.Yesterday he remained in New South Wales while his case was heard in the Ballarat Magistrates Court, however, a warrant has been issued for his arrest.Detective Senior Constable Mathew Young from the Ballarat sexual offence and child abuse investigation team told the court police this week became aware of an alleged breach, which involved a series of communications between Stewart and multiple students.“Police have real concerns (about the communications), it’s jeopardising our ability to contact students,” he said. “Our rapport building with (students) has been damaged by this.”Detective Young said Ballarat police had also received information that police in NSW were going to lay similar charges against Stewart, relating to a different set of alleged offences. Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Kent described the alleged breach as “not an innocent contact”. “These are sinister contacts ... designed to re-engage with the victim and manipulate other children,” he said. “It is not ambiguous not to contact students.”Defence lawyer Jeremy Harper said Stewart acknowledged breaching his bail, and had abided by conditions since.“He’s very sorry for breaching bail in that way, he didn’t mean any harm by it,” Mr Harper said. “He’s certainly well aware of the seriousness of the situation now.”But magistrate Kay Robertson took little time to revoke bail, saying it was the only appropriate response from the court. Stewart has been charged with eight counts of committing an indecent act with a child under 16. When Stewart appeared in court last November, Detective Young claimed that late last year Stewart had touched the boy’s genitals on two separate occasions and masturbated in front of him.He said Stewart had also walked in on the teenager while he was in the shower, and would himself walk around naked in front of him.Stewart is due back in court in March.Follow @ballaratcourier