A former teacher at Sydney’s prestigious Knox Grammar procured a child for sex over the dating app Grindr, by exchanging intimate photos and audio recordings, planning to meet up and discussing potential sexual activity.
William Roberto Gulson, who taught English and drama at Knox, unsuccessfully fought allegations relating to a 15-year-old student, a fictitious person created by a different student who told police they were using the dating app to try to “catch pedos”.
On Tuesday, parents of children dialled into Downing Centre Local Court as the 28-year-old was found guilty of procuring a child for sex over the dating app exchange in August last year.
Outlining the prosecution’s case, Magistrate Hugh Donnelly said a 16-year-old child created a fake Grindr profile which publicly purported to be a 26-year-old man, with a profile picture showing the back of a head.
Once a conversation was struck up between Gulson and the profile user, the child told him that he was, in fact, a 15-year-old year nine student who was “looking for older men”.
Throughout a contested local court hearing, Gulson argued he believed he was speaking with an adult, due to the age listed on the profile.
This was despite him sending messages reading: “Do you find it hot that you are as old as some of my students” and “I feel conflicted”.
The child sent five photos of a 15-year-old boy’s face, as the pair discussed his age and school, sexual experience, and “sexual activity that might be performed”, Donnelly said.
They then discussed meeting up, with Gulson saying he could pick the boy up from his house if he snuck out.
Three audio messages were exchanged, while the boy sent a photo of a year nine classmate and discussed potential sexual activity with them.
Gulson submitted he still believed he was conversing with a man in his 20s, even after these exchanges.
In convicting Gulson, Donnelly said there was “overwhelming evidence” that he thought he was speaking with a 15-year-old and made this finding beyond reasonable doubt.
He said Gulson’s account was “inherently improbable and implausible” given the child’s repeated admissions about his age and that his testimony was “unconvincing”.
The court heard Gulson also searched “gay child porn” nine days before his arrest.
As Donnelly delivered the guilty verdcit, Gulson looked at a man sitting next to him and held his hand.
Following Gulson’s arrest in September, Knox Grammar headmaster Scott James wrote to parents to say the “alleged exchange occurred outside school hours and premises and did not involve any school IT equipment”.
“When this was brought to our attention, the teacher concerned was immediately removed from the school and his employment was terminated,” said the headmaster of the school, which charges annual fees up to $45,000.
Gulson will remain on bail and return to court for sentencing submissions on March 20.
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