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NSW Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of 15-Year-Old; Sentencing Set for March 25

05:55 PM, 12/02/2025
NSW Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of 15-Year-Old; Sentencing Set for March 25

Karly Rae, a 37-year-old New South Wales teacher, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy in October 2024 and to related charges including possession of child abuse material and grooming. Court documents say messages on Snapchat and Instagram were used as evidence and the alleged incidents took place in Newcastle-area suburbs. Rae, who gave birth nearly eight weeks ago, was granted bail in June; a sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 25. A pre-sentencing report has been ordered and Rae remains on bail pending sentence.

A New South Wales teacher, 37-year-old Karly Rae, has pleaded guilty in court to sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy and to related offences, a judge has been told. The offences are alleged to have occurred in October 2024 in suburbs around Newcastle.

Charges and pleas

Rae admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old and pleaded guilty to charges that include possession of child abuse material, grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity and committing an act with the intention of perverting the course of justice. She initially entered not guilty pleas in May but changed those pleas last month.

Evidence outlined in court

Court documents say investigators found messages exchanged between Rae and the teenager on social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram. The messages are reported to have taken place while the pair met in the Newcastle suburbs of Bolton Point, Merewether and Belmont.

In one message exchange Rae reportedly wrote: "Hey, sorry for removing you on Snap. I found it too tempting for now." When the teenager asked, "Should we remove each other now?" she is reported to have replied, "It’s my fault. I take full responsibility. Do what you want/need." In another message she allegedly suggested: "Maybe we could have one last rendezvous before school goes back. I’ll bring my toy."

According to police material, the teenager’s cousin saw the messages, informed the boy’s parents and the family then notified police.

Arrest, bail and next steps

When arrested, Rae reportedly told officers she believed the boy was older: "I thought he was of age… and leaving school." She was initially refused bail but later granted Supreme Court bail in June after advising the court she was pregnant. She gave birth nearly eight weeks before appearing in court with her infant, and her lawyer asked that the matter be prioritised because of her childcare responsibilities.

Trial dates that had been scheduled for August 2025 were vacated after Rae entered guilty pleas. Judge Roy Ellis has allocated two and a half hours for a sentencing hearing set for March 25 and ordered a sentencing assessment report to be prepared in advance. Rae remains on bail while awaiting sentence.

Police material also notes that a professional learning transcript from the New South Wales Department of Education recorded Rae as having completed child protection training in February 2024.

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