A water polo coach and former teacher at a prestigious Sunshine Coast private school in Queensland is set to be deported after he was found guilty of almost 20 charges, including 14 counts of indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16.
According to ABC News, other charges included the possession of child porn and grooming a 13-year-old boy for sex.
Dean Carelse, 41, had more than 2000 images of child porn on two phones. He was arrested last year in March, reports News24. Detectives from the region’s Child Protection Investigation Unit raided his home in Mooloolaba and seized several items.
Carelse appeared in Maroochydore District Court on Wednesday, after spending 271 days in custody. He was given a sentence of two years, suspended after six months for three years.
It was also revealed that he faced forgery charges after forging a signature to make the child he groomed the benefactor of a will that he was the executive of and the beneficiary of his superannuation.
Defence counsel Ben Powers said to the court that his client felt extremely remorseful, shameful and understood that he committed a “gross breach of trust” as a teacher.
Powers further added that Carelse could not explain his wrongful doings, however, it did come at a time of loneliness and said the accused developed “an unhealthy and improper adoration” of the boy he groomed.
Carelse had completed religious-based courses during his almost nine months spent in custody with an aim to ensure he never repeated his behaviour.
Mr Powers said due to Carelse’s prominent career in South Africa, and being a rugby coach for the captain of the South African national rugby union team, The Springboks, the case attracted enormous international media attention. Seven newspaper articles as part of evidence, including online threats in comment sections made to Mr Carelse from the public.
A day after his arrest, he was suspended from his job at Water Polo Queensland by the then-chief executive Melanie Woosnam who said: “because he has been charged with serious criminal offences.”
Also read:
80 puffer fish washes ashore Long Beach, Simon’s Town earlier today
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery