<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A young person has told a judge how they were groomed by their teacher as a 12-year-old female for ongoing sexual abuse, leaving them a "damaged person".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kellie Ann-Marie Whiteside, 44, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/brisbane" rel="" target="" title="Brisbane"><span>Brisbane</span></a><span> District Court to one count of repeated sexual conduct with a child.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins discontinued 29 charges of indecent treatment of a child under 16 against Whiteside.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/treasurers-grim-warning-one-week-out-from-budget/12932def-882c-40dd-b702-f88edaf7eb8b" rel="" target="_blank" title="Treasurer interrupted by protesters before giving grim budget warning"><strong><span>Treasurer interrupted by protesters before giving grim budget warning</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chief Judge Brian Devereaux heard Whiteside was working as a science teacher in a school south of Brisbane when she turned a friendship with the victim into sexual abuse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilkins said Whiteside discussed frustrations in her sex life with her husband and swapped intimate images via Instagram and Snapchat messages with the victim.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The relationship turned sexual in March 2015. At this time the complainant was still 12 years of age but was soon to turn 13," Wilkins said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/female-teacher-admits-ongoing-sex-abuse-of-child/61390d4f-c74a-4a67-80a6-5d4812dd27e9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That relationship ultimately continued past the (victim's) 16th birthday and until it ended in March 2023 when (the victim) was 20 years of age."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Whiteside kissed the young person - who now identifies as non-binary - on school grounds and this led to sex acts committed in soccer club toilets, in car parks and in hotels.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wilkins said Whiteside used manipulation by giving the victim alcohol and demanding their text message exchanges remain secret.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The victim read their impact statement to Devereaux and said they now found it hard to form meaningful relationships.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-news-measles-alert-after-infected-person-on-flight-arrives-in-sydney/0a8ccfe6-e455-444b-a140-c9fc85d34d73" rel="" target="_blank" title="Measles alert issued after infectious traveller lands in major Aussie city"><strong><span>Measles alert issued after infectious traveller lands in major Aussie city</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is common for me to have panic attacks due to my overwhelming anxiety and fear (that) I will always be a damaged person with a warped mindset."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The victim said their parents now felt guilty as if they had failed to protect them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I was taught about stranger danger ... I was not prepared for a predator to be an adult who was in a position of power ... who was a woman," they said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My parents trusted her. I trusted her too."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The victim's mother said major milestone events in her child's life were now "tainted" as Whiteside had been involved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We were robbed of the joy of watching our child grow up without fear, in a place we thought was safe," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Defence barrister James McNab said Whiteside had been suffering from post-natal depression and difficulties in her marriage at the time of offending.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She has now lost her job as a teacher and will never work in the profession again," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McNab said Whiteside made extensive admissions when questioned by police and had attended rehabilitation counselling.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Devereaux told Whiteside she had committed an outrageous breach of the trust put in her as a teacher and had caused terrible consequences for the victim and their family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You took advantage of a young child at a difficult time in her life," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I accept (the psychologist's) opinion that you are not highly likely to offend in this way again."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Whiteside was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and will be eligible to apply for parole in March 2027.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" title="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.</span></strong></div></div>