Former Australian teacher sentenced for child sex abuse

A former teacher in Australia, Kellie Ann-Marie Whiteside, has been sentenced to five years in prison for abusing a 12-year-old student. The judge described her actions as an "outrageous breach of trust." Whiteside groomed the child over several years, starting with online messages and leading to physical abuse. The court revealed that Whiteside formulated a relationship with the victim through Instagram. They communicated secretly and eventually became involved in sexual acts. The abuse continued for almost eight years, starting in 2015. The child, now identifying as non-binary, described the emotional damage caused by Whiteside, stating they felt "hopeless and worthless." The victim’s family also expressed their pain in court, saying they felt they had failed to protect their child. They called Whiteside "selfish" and "manipulative," representing a troubling trend among certain educators in Australia. Whiteside was charged with multiple offenses but pleaded guilty to one count of repeated sexual conduct with a child. The court heard details of various incidents, including abusive acts occurring in different locations, often after giving the child alcohol. The relationship involved secret messages and manipulative tactics, where Whiteside advised the victim to watch pornography to learn about sex. The judge sentenced Whiteside to five years in prison, with eligibility for parole in 2027. He condemned her actions and stated she would never work in education again.