A female teacher who had an affair with a teenage student at a special needs school has been ordered to pay him $120,000 in damages.
Anna Blackburn, 36, from Carenne Public School in NSW's central west, spent months in a sexual relationship with David Withyman in 2003, the NSW District Court heard yesterday.
But Mr Withyman, who attended the Bathurst school because of his disturbed personality and learning disability, decided to sue the school and Ms Blackburn over what he said amounted to sexual abuse, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
He claimed the end of the affair with Ms Blackburn, who is 11 years his senior, triggered a spiral into crime.
He repeatedly assaulted her, breached restraining orders and threatened to kill her, the Herald reports.
Ms Blackburn, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress, sued the former student and won $70,000 in damages.
She denied having an affair with Mr Withyman but her former friend convinced the judge that the teacher and student had a consensual sexual relationship lasting about five months.
Judge Elkaim said the teacher embarked on a sexual escapade of "unexpected madness" and "an end disastrous to the plaintiff was inevitable''.
The judge stayed his judgment while the parties consider appeals.
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