Teacher 'kicked student in groin'

February 18, 2011

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Felicity Caldwell | 19th February 2011

A TEACHER kicked a special needs student in the groin and bound the wrists of a

second child during school trips, Ipswich Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

The experienced male teacher had worked at the special school in the Ipswich

region for years before the alleged incidents.

The court was told many teachers did not want to teach the aggressive and

" non-verbal " autistic 16-year-old who was allegedly attacked by his teacher.

The tall, heavy and strong teen was known for his outbursts but could be managed

by giving him space to calm down.

On October 15, 2009, as the buses arrived the teen was sitting in a garden bed

yelling and flailing his arms because he did not want to go home.

The court heard his middle-aged teacher rushed towards him yelling: " Get up, get

up, get ready for the bus. "

Witnesses told the court the teen suddenly stood up and his teacher then

allegedly kicked him in the groin. A female teacher who was nearby said the teen

cried out and doubled over in pain.

His teacher then allegedly straddled the teen, holding him down with his knees.

After a while he released the teen and allegedly told a male teacher who was

standing, shocked, nearby: " I think he's pissed off at me because I kicked him

in the balls. "

The court heard the teen then ran back to his classroom where he assaulted a

teacher's aide before he was subdued.

A few days later the middle-aged teacher asked another teacher if he was allowed

to " defend himself " if he was being attacked by a student and " knee him in the

groin " .

Another teacher's aide told the court she had seen the male teacher bind the

wrists of a different mute teen student during two school excursions.

The aide said the student was notorious for touching teachers and students and

during two excursions his male teacher had " had enough " .

She told the court the teacher had allegedly bound the student's wrists with

thick gaffer tape during car trips to Colleges Crossing and tenpin bowling.

The Queensland Times cannot reveal the name of the Ipswich region special school

to protect the identities of the alleged juvenile victims.

The teacher faces a charge of common assault and two of deprivation of liberty.

He has not yet entered a plea to the charges.

Magistrate Donna MacCallum found there was enough evidence to commit the charges

to trial in the Ipswich District Court on a date to be fixed.

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