Female teacher, 42, had sex with 16-year-old student after she ‘fell in love’ with a girl she saw as her ‘little sister’
- Leith Dianne Woods convicted of child crimes
- The ex-teacher sexually penetrated girl, 16
A female former teacher and footy coach has been convicted of child offenses against a teenage student she considered her “little sister.”
On trial in WA District Court, Leith Dianne Woods defended allegations that she committed multiple child sex crimes, including indecent handling and sexual penetration of the 16-year-old while she was a teacher at a regional school in 2012.
The court was told that the couple first met outside of school when the girl was in Year 10 and Woods was a former coach of the Swan Districts Football Club women’s team.
Woods became her school teacher later that year.
Teacher and footy coach Leith Dianne Woods told the court she considered the student her ‘little sister’ and felt ‘love’ for her
But it wasn’t until 2012 — after they went on a non-school sports trip to the Southwest and Woods was no longer her direct teacher — things changed and the pair began a “sort of secret relationship,” the reporter reported. Western Australian.
Prosecutors argued that the relationship could not be considered consensual because Woods held an authoritative position as a teacher at the girls’ school.
The jury was told the pair became close after the teen began having problems at home, with Woods testifying that she first saw the girl as a “little sister” and began mentoring her as she saw her as a talented athlete considered.
She admitted in court that she knew her actions were wrong, but continued the relationship because she had never had feelings for a woman before.
“I’ve had several male partners. But I felt company with her. I felt love,” Woods said.
In her evidence, the victim, now in her 20s, said after their first sexual encounter on the Southwest journey that she called Woods to apologize because she knew what position she had put her in.
She then testified that Woods replied “don’t be silly” and that she had no regrets.
The victim said from then on that the couple “engaged in sexual activities wherever we could,” and described the various encounters she said took place over the course of her senior year at school.
Woods, a former coach of the Swan Districts Football Club women’s team, admitted six offences, was acquitted of six charges and found guilty of one more charge – another sexual penetration offense that took place at Woods’ home. She will be sentenced next week
These include Woods’ car, home, other regional towns and on two school camping trips.
Woods denied that the pair met weekly to engage in sexual activity or that everything took place at school camps, claiming she did not want to risk being caught by other teachers or students.
Woods was originally charged with 16 offenses and admitted six of them on the first day of her trial.
However, she denied the remaining 10, claiming they did not take place at the alleged time. At trial, she was subsequently acquitted of three of those charges.
After three hours of deliberation on Thursday, the jury acquitted Woods of six more of those charges — five counts of sexual assault of a child under her custody and indecent act.
However, they found her guilty of one more charge – another felony of sexual penetration that took place at the Woods home.
She will be sentenced next week.