Perth educator stands trial in relation to indecent touching charge 

Before proceeding with this article readers of The Sector should be aware that it discusses allegations of inappropriate touching between an early childhood educator and a three year old child, and should consider their own circumstances and wellbeing. 

An early childhood educator has faced the District Court of Western Australia in relation to allegations that he indecently touched a three-year-old girl in his care – a charge the man “firmly denies.” 

Prosecutor Hannah Pike outlined for the jury that the 24-year-old man is accused of indecently touching the alleged victim on 5 April 2023, while the alleged victim was outside with a group of other children, all of whom were dancing, along with the educator. 

The allegation is that the man indecently touched the alleged victim as she sat on the grass and he sat on a nearby bench, the prosecutor said, adding that he then tied up her hair. That night, the girl complained to her parents and police became involved.

Other educators were present during the alleged incident, however they were supervising children’s play, and were not directly observing the man or the child. With no direct witnesses, the defence has argued that the case relies “almost entirely on the child’s evidence”.

Countering, the prosecution noted that there are no laws stating that corroborating evidence was necessary to convict an accused, telling the jury that if they accepted the fundamental aspects of the girl’s evidence, they would have no difficulty finding the man guilty.

In response defence counsel David Robinson said his client firmly denied the accusation, urging the jury to consider if it was the kind of venue where an offender had an opportunity to commit such a crime, which the community “appropriately loathes”.

“Approach this matter as if it was a loved one sitting in the dock . . . facing a very serious charge,” the barrister said.

The jury was played two 35 minute videos of the child being gently questioned by a special police interviewer two days after the alleged incident and later by judicial officers when she had turned five (years of age), confidently answering their questions.

However, she did not speak, her eyes downcast, when Mr Robinson suggested her version of events was not true.

The girl’s mother then testified, saying she was “shocked and taken aback” when her daughter first alleged what had occurred, sharing that her response was to calm her child, send her to play, and walk through the nightly routine, bringing milk and a book to her bedroom before asking her child again what happened.

“She said it quite matter-of-fact,” the mother said. “She was calm when she said it. She stated it.”

The trial is expected to run for seven days. Access alternative coverage of the story here.