Naomi Craig: Frederick Irwin Anglican School teacher cops more child sex charges after birthing student’s baby

Police have revealed the three new charges a Mandurah teacher is facing after The West Australian exclusively revealed she gave birth to a baby allegedly fathered by her young victim. Naomi Tekea Craig was last month charged with two counts of sexual penetration of a child over 13 and under 16, one count of possessing child exploitation material and persistent sexual conduct with a child under 16. Police on Wednesday revealed the Frederick Irwin Anglican School teacher had since been charged with sexual penetration of a child over 13 and under 16, indecent deals with a child over 13 and under 16, and indecent dealings with a child under 13, bringing the total number of alleged offences to seven. It comes after The West Australian revealed the 33-year-old had recently given birth, with DNA testing of a sample from her placenta believed to have found a claimed link between the newborn and her alleged victim. Police Commissioner Col Blanch on Wednesday said DNA testing indicated the alleged victim was the father of the baby. He described the allegations as “heinous”, and said child sex offences were even more aggravating when the offender was in a position of power. “The matter is before the court, but more generally, it is a very serious and heinous offence in relation to child sex offences in our community,” he said. “We should all be shocked by any of these allegations that young people are being preyed upon in our community. “I’m not going to speak specifically about this matter, but if it is by a person in a position of authority or care of another, (it is) even more aggravating.” Premier Roger Cook said he was “disturbed” by the allegations. “I think we’re all confronted and disturbed by the reports that we’ve seen come ... in relation to that issue,” he said. “I do stress that the matter (is) before the courts, so I won’t make further comment in relation to the details.” Ms Craig — who taught students under the surname Woods — has been on maternity leave since December, according to a school newsletter. It was reported she was married and already had a child with her husband when the allegations were revealed. Frederick Irwin Anglican School sent a letter to parents and carers earlier this month, confirming the alleged victim was no longer a student at the school. The letter also said Ms Craig had been suspended from duty “pending the outcome of the police investigation and any prosecution.” “I regret to inform you that a teacher from our school has been arrested by police and charged with child related offences not involving any current student,” the letter reads. “The teacher has been instructed not to attend the school. “The information available to the school suggests that there is no need for any concern for any other children at the school.” The West does not suggest the school’s actions mean the former teacher is guilty of the charges, just the fact of those steps having been taken. Frederick Irwin Anglican School is a private co-educational Anglican school in Meadow Springs, with students from kindergarten to Year 12. Ms Craig is due to appear in Mandurah Magistrates Court for an audio link hearing on January 27. The West has since confirmed Ms Craig’s first court appearance was on December 17 at Perth Magistrates Court — just one day after she was initially charged with four offences. Her first court hearing was closed to the public and it wasn’t until January that the allegations were made public.