Banned teacher sent 35k messages to student
A Victorian teacher who began a sexual relationship with an ex-student within two years of them graduating has been suspended from the profession for three years.
Eleanor Yorke was sacked from Carey Grammar in Melbourne after it was discovered she had sent 35,000 messages to a then student before later having a sexual relationship with them.
She accepted allegations of serious misconduct at a Victoria Institute of Teaching hearing in March.
The allegations were first raised by the school in May 2023 and a month later her employment was terminated.
She faced a hearing earlier this year after it was alleged that she violated her professional relationship with the then student – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – by having personal conversations with them.
Her barrister told the hearing that she accepted the allegations made against her and that she was not fit to teach. Eleanor Yorke has been banned from teaching for three years. Supplied. Credit: Supplied
'There was agreement between the parties that each of the allegations outlined in the hearing book were substantiated,' the panel found.
'The teacher accepted that the allegations amounted to serious misconduct and that her registration should be cancelled.'
The Victoria Institute of Teachers code of conduct was amended in 2021 to forbid teachers from engaging in sexual relationships with former students within two years of them graduating.
The panel found that Yorke 'discussed this amendment of the code with the student and then chose to ignore it', calling it a 'deliberate rejection of professional standards'.
'The public has a right to believe that their children are protected, and the teacher's behaviour has the potential to undermine community confidence in teachers and schools,' the panel said in its judgment published on Thursday.
The panel found that Yorke's behaviour warranted 'strong condemnation'
'Given that there was agreement that all allegations were substantiated, the panel decided that the protection of children, the message of general deterrence to others in the teaching profession and community expectations about trust and respect for the teaching profession required a strong sanction,' the judgment said.
Yorke's registration was cancelled for three years beginning on March 24.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
8 hours ago
- The Age
Awarded mentor jailed for ‘appalling' child abuse while working as football umpire
An Indigenous elder and former Victorian Senior of the Year has been jailed for 'appalling' offences against a child he had mentored as a football umpire. Robert Eccles, 72, was in April found guilty by a County Court jury of four child abuse charges, including committing an indecent act on a child aged under 16 and sexual penetration of a 16- or 17-year-old child in his care. He was acquitted by the jury of another four charges of sexual penetration and one of committing an indecent act with a child. Eccles was aged 59 and working as a senior umpire in Warrnambool when he started giving full-body massages to a 15-year-old junior umpire in his garage in 2011. The Indigenous elder had mentored the boy and told him the massages were important for his performance as an umpire. When the boy turned 16, the massages became sexual. Eccles faced the County Court in Melbourne on Monday, supported by four women, and was sentenced to a maximum of four years and eight months in jail, with a non-parole period of nearly three years. Chief judge Amanda Chambers found his offending against a child who was under his care while inside his home was an inherent beach of trust. '[It was] appalling offending against a child who you had mentored and encouraged,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Awarded mentor jailed for ‘appalling' child abuse while working as football umpire
An Indigenous elder and former Victorian Senior of the Year has been jailed for 'appalling' offences against a child he had mentored as a football umpire. Robert Eccles, 72, was in April found guilty by a County Court jury of four child abuse charges, including committing an indecent act on a child aged under 16 and sexual penetration of a 16- or 17-year-old child in his care. He was acquitted by the jury of another four charges of sexual penetration and one of committing an indecent act with a child. Eccles was aged 59 and working as a senior umpire in Warrnambool when he started giving full-body massages to a 15-year-old junior umpire in his garage in 2011. The Indigenous elder had mentored the boy and told him the massages were important for his performance as an umpire. When the boy turned 16, the massages became sexual. Eccles faced the County Court in Melbourne on Monday, supported by four women, and was sentenced to a maximum of four years and eight months in jail, with a non-parole period of nearly three years. Chief judge Amanda Chambers found his offending against a child who was under his care while inside his home was an inherent beach of trust. '[It was] appalling offending against a child who you had mentored and encouraged,' she said.
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Let me be absolutely clear': Beauty and the Geek star forced to deny involvement in shocking murder case as identity of the alleged offender is suppressed
Former Beauty and the Geek winner Kiera Johnstone has been forced to publicly deny involvement in a shocking murder case after rampant speculation linked her to the crime. The 26-year-old reality TV contestant, who won the 2021 series alongside her match Lachlan Mansell, took to social media on Sunday to clarify that she had not been arrested or charged, and was not involved "in any way". Johnstone's statement comes after a 34-year-old woman, reportedly a former Beauty and the Geek contestant, was charged with murder when the body of a man was discovered in a Port Lincoln home last Thursday. That legal restriction has allegedly fueled online speculation, some of which Johnstone now claims has implicated her. In a lengthy message posted to her Instagram Stories, the reality TV star hit back at the rumours and urged people to "stop spreading misinformation". "Hi everyone," her statement began. "A former contestant from Beauty and the Geek has been charged with a very serious crime. "Although no names have been released, for reasons beyond my understanding, there has been speculation online suggesting that I am involved." Jonstone continued: "Let me be absolutely clear: I am not involved in any way. I have not been charged with a crime. I have literally never even had a parking fine." "The allegations being discussed have nothing to do with me, and the fact that I even need to say this is incredibly upsetting." Johnstone, who now runs a jewellery boutique in Melbourne and formerly worked as a public servant with the Victorian Government, said it was "deeply disturbing" to see people "spreading false information, making assumptions and sharing screenshots". "I understand the internet can be quick to judge, but this kind of speculation is damaging and invasive and is something I take very seriously," she continued. She ended the statement to her nearly 15,000 followers by saying: "As this has nothing to do with me, this will be the only time I speak on the matter." While Johnstone and her on-screen partner Lachlan 'Lachy the Geek' Mansell have remained close since sharing the show's $100,000 prize four years ago, he has not commented publicly on the situation. It's understood the woman charged faced court via video link from Port Lincoln Hospital on Friday under police guard. She is currently being held under a mental health order and is expected to reappear in court in December. At a press conference the same day, South Australia Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott confirmed it was not yet known how long the man had been dead before his body was discovered. He declined to comment on the nature of the man's injuries but said the incident was not random. "We understand that the female who has been arrested and the deceased male both lived at this address," he said. Neighbours said they were stunned by the incident, describing the woman as "really nice". One resident said he attempted to put the fire out, but the house was "too smoky". It's understood the couple had only recently moved in together. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
