A former teacher at a prestigious $37,000-a-year Sydney school who groomed a 15-year-old on a dating app will not be sentenced until later this year after his case faced yet another delay.
William Gulson, 28, was found guilty in January of procuring or grooming a minor for unlawful sexual activity, and appeared before the Downing Centre Local Court set to learn his sentence on Friday.
However, his case hit a fresh snag, and the sentencing was adjourned till May to allow for a psychologist to be called for cross examination.
In a bizarre twist, Gulson’s defence barrister Paul Glissan also made a bail variation application to allow Gulson to travel to Fiji on a family holiday.
“I must say an overseas trip at this stage in the proceedings is not a common thing,” Magistrate Hugh Donnelly said.
He noted while Gulson had previously been granted bail variations to allow him to take two trips – one to Bali and the other to Europe – he said this application was different because Gulson has been found guilty.
Magistrate Donnelly denied the application, noting failure to appear before the court is of concern while he awaits sentence.
William Gulson. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
He will next appear in court on May 7.
‘Super cute’
The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had set up the account to “catch pedos” and because they “thought it would be funny”, the court was previously told.
The former teacher knew the account he was chatting with belonged to a 15-year-old in year 9, the court was told.
During the exchange, which Gulson was engaged in while he was at home marking assignments, the teacher asked the teenager: “Do you find it hot you’re as old as some of my students?”
He also described the teenager as “cute” and “super young” before stating “I hope I don’t teach you” and that he was “conflicted”.
Gulson also encouraged the teen to sneak out of the house so they could meet up.
Police also found during a search of Gulson’s internet history Google search terms for “priest rapes young boy movie scene” and searches relating to “gay child porn” in the two months before his arrest.
William Gulson has been found guilty of child grooming. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
He pleaded not guilty to the lone charge and faced a three-day hearing in the Downing Centre Local Court last September.
A few months later, in January, he was found guilty by magistrate Hugh Donnelly who said he rejected the claim that Gulson believed the teenager was an adult, given Grindr is a site for adults.
The fake profile also described the account as a man aged in his 20s, the court was told.
Mr Donnelly rejected this claim and said Gulson not using the word “adult” or asking if the account was an adult’s during their conversation was “powerful evidence”.
Gulson only asked if the account was a bot, the court was told.
Gulson’s employment with Knox Grammar School was terminated in September, 2024, after the allegations came to light.
He has been on conditional bail since.
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