Teacher accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting teen student in 1990s

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged child abuse.

A NSW man has been issued charges for historical allegations claiming he sexually abused one of his students 30 years ago while he was her teacher in Canberra.

David Alan Dempsey allegedly repeatedly raped or indecently abused the girl, then aged 15 and 16, while they were in a “student-teacher-type relationship” in the 1990s.

He has been handed one count of sexual intercourse with a person under 16, four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of committing an act of indecency in the presence of a young person.

Mr Dempsey, a now-67-year-old from Sydney, was issued the charges via summons, which means he was not placed on bail, and they were first heard in the ACT Magistrates Court last week.

Then, on Monday (25 November), a prosecutor asked the court to put him on bail so conditions could apply to him.

The court heard it alleged that police had received information claiming he was continuing to engage with vulnerable people without supervision and was working with children without a clearance to do so.

His previous employer, a school, reported he had been working as a private tutor for children.

The prosecutor said while the alleged offending was historical, it was said to involve a person 15 and 16 years of age who he was in a “student-teacher-type relationship” with.

Mr Dempsey’s solicitor, Peter Woodhouse of CODA Criminal Law, said his client’s working with vulnerable people card had been cancelled on 15 November.

He asked for his client’s bail conditions to be that he not be with children under the age of 16 rather than 18.

Mr Woodhouse said the allegations were from 30 years ago, and there was no suggestion that his client had done anything inappropriate against any child he taught in the last three decades.

Magistrate Ian Temby accepted there was a risk that needed to be addressed and placed Mr Dempsey on bail, but agreed with Mr Woodhouse about what age needed to be in one of the conditions.

The conditions include not contacting the woman who made the allegations, not working with children, not being in the company of a person under 16 without the presence of a carer, not approaching any children he has previously tutored and not approaching any school.

The matter was adjourned to 30 January. Mr Dempsey, who did not appear in court on Monday, is excused from appearing if legally represented.

His lawyers have previously indicated pleas of not guilty.

If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.