Teacher accused luring her 13-year-old student into sex is revealed as prominent businesswoman – as he sues her for $1million
- Meredith Rawlings is accused of having sexual relationship with a male student
- The former Toowoomba Grammar School teacher is being sued for $1million
- Nicholas Brockhurst alleges he suffered significant psychological trauma
- Ms Rawlings denies the allegations in the civil trial; no criminal complaint made
A woman accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage student while she was a teacher at a private boys’ school has been revealed to be a prominent businesswoman.
Meredith Rawlings is being sued for $1million in the Brisbane Supreme Court by her former student Nicholas Brockhurst, who alleges he suffered significant psychological trauma as a result of their relationship which began when he was 13.
Ms Rawlings, who along with her chef husband owns Encores at The Empire and Inbound Brasserie and Café in Toowoomba, denies the allegations. No criminal complaint has ever been made to police and she has never been charged.
Mr Brockhurst alleges in the civil trial his emotional and sexual relationship with Ms Rawlings began after he started as a boarder at Toowoomba Grammar School in 1996 when he was in Year 8, the Courier-Mail reported.
Former Toowoomba Grammar School teacher Meredith Rawlings is being sued for $1million over allegations she had an emotional and sexual relationship with a teenage student
Ms Rawlings, then 29, had started teaching at the school the same year, with Mr Brockhurst alleging she immediately took an interest and passed notes and organised regular meetings.
The relationship allegedly escalated to the point where they were talking on the phone at night and hugging and kissing each other by the end of the year.
Mr Brockhurst allegedly lost his virginity to Ms Rawlings the following the year at her home while her husband was out.
Ms Rawlings resigned as a teacher at the school in 1997 after Mr Brockhurst’s family allegedly found notes she had written in his bedroom and alerted the school, the court heard.
The alleged emotional and sexual relationship began when Nicholas Brockhurst started as a boarder at Toowoomba Grammar School (pictured), where Ms Rawlings worked as a teacher, in 1996
She told the court she had met with Mr Brockhurst’s mother after he was given detention nine times in 10 weeks, with an agreement made she would work closely with her student to lift his performance and improve his behaviour.
Ms Rawlings developed a friendship with Mr Brockhurst’s mother after the pair were in regular contact about about his progress, the court heard.
She denied anything of a sexual nature ever happened with Mr Brockhurst or that she acted inappropriately.
Ms Rawlings told the court the phone calls with Mr Brockhurst and the notes handed to him were part of the request to improve his behaviour at school and ‘frame of mind’.
The trial continues.
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