The Sydney high school PE teacher accused of sexually abusing her student allegedly sent sexual videos of herself on Snapchat, invited the teenager to her Wollongong home and had sex with him in the back of his car.
Tayla Brailey, 30, was arrested at a south-west Sydney school on Wednesday and charged with aggravated sexual assault of her 17-year-old student, as well as sexually touching and sexual intercourse with him.
Sydney teacher Tayla Brailey has been accused of abusing her 17-year-old student.Credit: Nikki Short / Supplied
New details have emerged about the allegations, a day after Brailey was granted strict bail at Liverpool Local Court.
According to a police fact sheet tendered to court and obtained by this masthead, the 17-year-old boy added Brailey on Snapchat in early July.
The pair began “general” conversation before it allegedly became sexual in nature. Brailey allegedly sent the boy photos and videos of herself performing a sexual act naked, and the alleged victim returned photos and videos of himself.
The fact sheet states Brailey told the student not to tell anyone about their communication and that she would get in trouble if their chats were detected.
Police allege that around mid-July, the student and a friend went to Brailey’s house in North Wollongong.
Police allege inappropriate conversations between Brailey and her student began on Snapchat
Once inside, the alleged victim and Brailey began kissing before eventually moving to an upstairs spare bedroom, where they engaged in a sexual act. The student’s friend allegedly walked into the room while this was taking place and then walked out.
The next alleged crime took place while Brailey was rostered on duty at the high school on July 26.
Police allege Brailey told the student she had free time for an hour and they agreed to leave school together, but each left in their own cars.
They both stopped at a secluded location, police allege, and Brailey exited her car and entered the student’s vehicle, where she allegedly sexually abused him in the rear seat.
Brailey was released from custody on strict bail on Wednesday.Credit: Louise Kennerley
Brailey then went to a pharmacy to buy emergency contraception, the fact sheet reads.
After this, the pair stopped talking until Brailey reached out to ask the student if he had told anyone about what happened between them, which he denied. Brailey told him she heard that he had told people and said they couldn’t talk any more before blocking him on Snapchat.
About 2.30pm on Tuesday, police attended the high school in response to reports Brailey had been “grooming” several students at the school and sending naked photos and videos. Officers spoke to two students about the allegations.
Shortly after, police held a meeting with Brailey in a classroom. They allege she became hysterical and said: “I am going to jail, aren’t I? I’m going to lose my family, my husband, my job.”
Brailey was married last year.
The fact sheet states police recorded a conversation with Brailey in which she “made full and frank admissions” to speaking with three students on social media.
“All of the communications between the accused and students were of a sexual nature where she discussed sexual acts and shared intimate photos and videos,” the fact sheet reads.
“The accused conceded to one student coming into one of the classrooms and kissing her”.
Brailey has not been charged in relation to the two other students.
She allegedly made “detailed admissions” to police about sexual intercourse with the 17-year-old student in his car.
Police arrested Brailey and visited the alleged victim’s house, who then went to the station to provide a statement. Police allege he described feeling like he “had to” send the photos and videos of himself to keep Brailey “happy”.
The student’s phone allegedly had several “hidden videos” showing that he and Brailey had performed sexual acts over FaceTime video calls.
Brailey, who married her husband last year, was granted strict bail on Wednesday.
Her solicitor, Patrick Schmidt, told the court he did not shy away from the seriousness of the allegations and acknowledged the prosecution case seemed strong.
But he noted Brailey had no prior criminal record and strong community ties, with her parents and husband supporting her in court.
He argued successfully for Brailey to be released from custody to essentially live under house arrest with her parents in Wollongong, saying decisions on bail were not about early punishment but risks to the community.
Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim was confident the strict bail conditions proposed by Schmidt would mitigate any risks raised by the prosecution, which included failing to appear at court, endangering the safety of victims and the community and interfering with witnesses or evidence.
A Department of Education spokesperson earlier confirmed Brailey had been suspended without pay and students and staff were being supported.
Brailey is next due to face Campbelltown Local Court on October 2.
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