Oz Catholic teacher jailed for 10 yrs for raping, molesting 13 students

Melbourne, Oct 4: A Catholic primary school teacher in Australia who raped and performed indecent acts on 13 students aged nine and ten, has been sentenced to ten years jail though he could be let out in six.

Gerard Byrnes, 61, of Toowoomba, had 44 offences against him, and they included him brazenly raping girls at his desk during class, the Courier Mail reported.

At the Toowoomba District Court it was revealed how on two occasions Byrnes called girls back to the classroom at little lunch, pulled down their underwear and performed sex acts on them.

The court was also told how even after a girl complained to the principal his offending acts continued for another year.

Byrnes has served 23 months in pre-sentence custody.

ANI