Teacher allegedly ‘procured’ child for sex
A high school teacher charged with grooming a 15-year-old child exposed her alleged victim to an “indecent picture”, court documents allege.
Chelsea Jane Edwards, 28, a teacher at Indooroopilly State High School, in Brisbane, Queensland, was charged in March with two counts of grooming and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 16.
Police allege in court documents Ms Edwards had contact with the child on various occasions from July to September 2022, when the grooming offences allegedly commenced.
According to the school’s website, Ms Edwards, acted as the sports co-ordinator.
Police were allegedly contacted in February and an investigation was launched.
Ms Edwards, who lives in Paradise Point on the Gold Coast, was formally charged on March 10.
She was granted strict bail in March and ordered to hand over her passport to police.
Police allege in court documents Ms Edwards “wilfully exposed” the child to an indecent photo on a date in September.
The documents further allege she engaged in conduct with the intent to “procure” the child to engage in a sexual act in Queensland between July 7 and September 14, 2022.
Ms Edwards did not appear before Southport Magistrates Court when her matter was briefly mentioned on Tuesday.
Ms Edwards’ solicitor, Jordan Roles, told the court on Tuesday he’d only received a partial brief of evidence from the prosecution.
The court heard the investigating officer had been on leave but has since returned and the brief of evidence will be completed.
The matter was adjourned to Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 29.
In a statement, the Department of Education said in March the “safety and wellbeing of students” was their highest priority.
“The Department acknowledges that the allegations are serious and upsetting for all involved,” the spokeswoman said.
“We have been providing extensive wraparound support to the school community in question, and we will continue to do so.”
Indooroopilly is one of the largest state schools in Queensland, with a student body of more than 2500.
