A former high school teacher has been ordered to pay $1.45M compensation to a student who she sexually abused when he was just 13 years of age.
A three week trial in March this year, led by Shine Lawyers, revealed the inappropriate relationship started in 1996 and lasted 18 months. It was alleged the Toowoomba Grammar teacher visited the student's family property and allowed the student to stay over at her house, at the time.
Justice Soraya Ryan accepted that our client was sexually abused by his former school teacher, stating in today's judgment, "I found that Mrs Rawlings lied about many matters" when giving her evidence.
Shine Lawyers Abuse Law Solicitor, Callum Copland, said today's judgment demonstrates that a teacher who takes advantage of their position of power and coerces a student into sexual acts can be held accountable, even when those acts occurred decades ago.
"Teachers play a pivotal role in our community, they are entrusted to nurture, educate and encourage our children to be their very best. With this position comes great responsibility and power…a power that was abused in our client's case," Mr Copland said.
"At just 13, Nick transitioned from a small school in the country town of Miles, to the prestigious Toowoomba Grammar School as a boarder. Having never lived away from home he was vulnerable. A child in Nick's position simply cannot consent to a relationship of a sexual nature with an adult."
Justice Ryan found the defendant abused her position of trust over the plaintiff, who was particularly vulnerable as a 13 year old boarder, living away from home.
Multiple letters written by the defendant, Meredith Rawlings, to our client, Nicholas Brockhurst, were used as evidence in the three week trial, as well as testimony by former students who recall witnessing Rawlings and Brockhurst acting inappropriately.
Mr Copland said his client never wanted his personal life played out in a court of law, but the continuous denials by the defendant, and the way in which she conducted her case, left him with no choice.
"I am so proud that Nick found the strength to stay the course. The courage he showed in the court room was extraordinary," Mr Copland said.
"Today's judgment sends a clear message to all survivors of abuse that the criminal law process is not their only option for seeking justice by holding their perpetrator responsible."
"Survivors of sexual abuse find it very challenging to come forward and report what has happened to them, but if the perpetrator is female, this adds yet another level of complexity and reluctance."
With more than thirty years' experience in abuse law, Shine Lawyers has successfully represented many survivors who have suffered abuse at the hands of female perpetrators. Mr Copland said as a society we would be foolish to think that sexual abuse is limited to male offenders.
"Sexual abuse by a female perpetrator is not commonly spoken about, but what we are seeing is an increase in survivors who are finding the courage to come forward and disclose their abuse which was perpetrated by a female in a position of authority," said Mr Copland.
Statements from Nicholas Brockhurst
"It's been a long time coming but today I am breathing a huge sigh of relief knowing that the court believed me and could see the shocking impact this had had on my life since a young age.
"Pretty much my whole life I have had to deal with this in my own head, it's been a nightmare. I was a normal kid but after this inappropriate relationship I plummeted, and I was robbed of a normal life.
"I hope that anyone out there who is placed in a vulnerable position can now know that they will be believed, and can speak up. I was nowhere near old enough for that sort of grooming, it was incredibly confusing.
"Teachers have a very important role to play in society in nurturing and educating children and should know better than to take advantage of them when they are so vulnerable.
