Former Bendigo phys ed teacher Bryan Keely has pleaded guilty to two sets of charges relating to his repeated sexual assault of an under-age girl.
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The charges include penetration of a child under 16, involving a child in the production of child abuse material, knowingly possessing child abuse material and sexually assaulting by intimately kissing a child under 16, as well as contravening bail conditions.
The 35-year-old appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court via videolink from jail on May 15 and was sentenced by Magistrate Trieu Huynh to appear in the County Court in July.
The Spring Gully man was first arrested on August 28, 2023 year after a 15-year-old girl reported she had been having a sexual relationship with him since around May 2023.
Keely was initially charged with nearly 30 offences and was granted bail on a $100,000 surety provided by his mother.
Accused broke his bail conditions
The conditions of his bail included that he stay away from and not contact the girl, or any other under-age children, with the exception of those serving him in a retail capacity, and that he not use social media or dating websites.
However, Keely broke the bail conditions and committed a series of new offences by creating a new social media account and using it to continue to contact and exchange explicit content with the girl.
He also met with her in person.
The court has heard previously that the former teacher repeatedly told the teenager he was in love with her, referred to her as his girlfriend and as well as sending her sexually explicit content, plied her with messages suggesting they would have a future together.
On October 5, after police had been informed of Keely's continuing contact with the girl, he was re-arrested at his mother's home, where an undisclosed iPad he had been using to contact the victim was found.
In court on May 15 Keely was quiet, frequently looking down at his hands, and speaking only to answer "guilty" to the magistrate.
His lawyer, Candice Jackson, made no application for bail and Keely was remanded in custody.
He is due to appear in the County Court sitting in Bendigo on July 29.
For help:
Safe Steps 24-hour crisis line on 1800 015 188
Centre for Non-violence FREE CALL: 1800 884 292
CASA Centre Against Sexual Assault crisis line 1800 806 292
Men's Referral service - 1300 766 491 (to discuss your own or someone else's behaviour)
Correction: The headline on an earlier version of this story suggested that Keely had pleaded guilty to rape and grooming. This was not the case. He was not facing rape or grooming charges. It also incorrectly said Bryan Keely was from Long Gully.
