Music teacher Janelle Fletcher goes on trial for alleged child sexual abuse

News.com.au

a day ago

A music teacher allegedly dared two teenage girls to kiss each other and texted one of them 'I love you, I'm so happy,' a court has heard.
Janelle Colville Fletcher is standing trial in the South Australian District Court, having pleaded not guilty to grooming two girls and sexually abusing one of them while in a position of authority.
She is alleged to have abused the girl in various locations some years ago and to have communicated with her and another teenage girl to make them amenable to sexual activity.
In his opening statement, prosecutor Chris Allen argued before Judge Joana Fuller that Ms Fletcher had engaged in 'two or more' sexual acts with one of the girls, who was aged in her mid to late teens when the alleged offending began.
Some of the alleged offending happened when the two girls and Ms Fletcher were alone together in a room, the prosecution said.
In one instance, the prosecution allege Ms Fletcher, 40, was alone in a room with the two girls and performed a lap dance on a chair.
She then allegedly 'dared' the two girls to kiss each other and asked if they would 'date' each other.
That same night, Mr Allen said Ms Fletcher then spent time alone with one of the girls and touched her genital area.
The alleged grooming and abuse of the girl then went on for months, the prosecution said.
Ms Fletcher exchanged text messages and emails with the girl, writing 'I'm so in love with you, you make me so happy', the prosecution said.
She is also alleged to have texted: 'Right now we can't be open. We have to continue as we are, in secret … I don't know if that is fair on you.'
The abuse happened at residential properties and in a car, the prosecution claimed.
There was also a 'movie night', where the two of them took photographs together and kissed, Mr Allen said.
The prosecution alleged Ms Fletcher offered 'numerous gifts' to the girl on her birthday.
Ms Fletcher also actively tried to hide her behaviour, the prosecution argued, in one case instructing the girl to alter her name in her phone contact book.
The girl ended the relationship after some months, the court heard.
Both of Ms Fletcher's alleged victims are expected to give evidence at the trial.
Ms Fletcher, from Trinity Gardens in Adelaide's inner east, was formerly the head of music at Tabor College, but she no longer works there.
The alleged offending does not relate to Tabor College.
The trial continues.