Teacher blames Aspergers for sexually abusing student https://t.co/E5bIVjwncW
— nzherald (@nzherald) January 19, 2016
The teacher admitted touching the young man’s penis, saying he had been concerned for his personal hygiene.
He conceded that his actions were “bizarre” and he was “deeply ashamed”.
The man was charged with one count of common assault, after an initial charge of sexual assault was dropped.
The teacher’s defence claimed he was trying to “test his assumption that the [student’s] penis may have a malformation”, and said his “bizarre venture without true insight” was a consequence of his Asperger’s Syndrome.
He had “no intention to sexually offend”.
The teacher pleaded guilty to the common assault charge, and was discharged without conviction.