A FORMER Gunnedah teacher has admitted to committing numerous sexual assault offences against six students during the 1970s.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
John Ernest Spinks, 79, of Yamba, appeared via video-link in Wagga Local Court on Wednesday when he pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault.
During the hearing, Spinks had 13 additional counts of indecent assault withdrawn, and he is yet to enter a plea to one further count of indecent assault.
READ ALSO:
In relation to the matters to which Spinks pleaded guilty, court documents state the offences occurred between 1971 and 1978 either at Wagga High School or in connection with school activities.
Spinks was the head of English, and assaulted the students mainly in a location referred to as the book room - a small, windowless room with a single doorway used to store textbooks - court documents state.
Spinks accompanied the victims into the room after telling them he needed help sorting books.
After being indecently assaulted, one victim went home from school that day and told his parents he was not returning to school.
According to documents tendered to the court, he did not disclose exactly what had taken place but was too scared to return.
In another incident, court documents state Spinks drove a student to a unit in Wagga under the guise of sorting some books and assaulted him.
Spinks will face Wagga District Court on December 13 for sentencing. He will face Wagga Local Court in January next year on the outstanding indecent assault charge.
In June last year, Spinks pleaded not guilty to an initial nine charges, before more complainants came forward. This led to additional charges being laid.
Spinks remains on bail.