‘Reprehensible’: Police allege Brisbane teacher abused 19 students
By Savannah Meacham
A former teacher has been accused of dozens of child sexual offences involving 19 children in Queensland almost 40 years ago.
Stephen Patrick Andrew Kayser, 68, appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday charged with 49 historical offences.
Police alleged Kayser committed offences against 19 primary-aged children between 1988 and 1990 when he was a teacher at a Brisbane school.
The school has not been named for legal reasons.
The police investigation – dubbed Operation Whiskey Mott – began after a formal report was lodged by one of the alleged victims on June 10.
A search warrant was carried out at a home in Brisbane’s south on Saturday and Kayser was taken into custody.
Detective Acting Inspector Deanna Geck has urged anyone with information on a former Brisbane teacher accused of historical child abuse to contact police.
“Crimes against children, who are our most vulnerable, are reprehensible and police are committed to pursuing every avenue of investigation to ensure we seek justice for them,” Detective Acting Inspector Deanna Geck said outside court.
“I want to reassure you that what has happened to you is not your fault and you are not alone, and that there are support services available to you.
“We encourage anyone who has any knowledge of this type of offending, is themselves a victim-survivor of sexual violence or has information to provide in relation to this investigation to come forward.”
The court was told Kayser had been a teacher for 43 years and retired in 2020.
He was suspended by the Queensland College of Teachers Board in 2022, the magistrate heard.
While police opposed bail, his defence argued there had been no allegations Kayser had committed a crime since 1990.
The defence also said it would be difficult for Kayser’s family to “maintain their household” without him given he was an informal carer for his wife.
Magistrate Belinda Merrin granted Kayser bail with strict conditions.
“The charges are very serious, the nature of them and sheer number of them, if convicted of the offences a lengthy term of imprisonment would be inevitable,” she said.
Kayser must report to a police station three days a week, not apply for a new passport, not approach any of the prosecution’s witnesses or go to an international airport.
He has been charged with 27 counts of indecent treatment of children under 16, 17 counts of taking a child for immoral purposes and five counts of common assault.
The matter was adjourned until September 2.
AAP