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Updated: 10/18/2013 15:16 | By Channel NewsAsia
Former relief teacher jailed for sex with 13-year-old student
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SINGAPORE: A former relief teacher who cajoled his 13-year-old student into having sex with him has been sentenced to 27 months in jail.
Steven Lee Woon Leong, now 27, admitted to having consensual sex with the Secondary 2 student between March and June 2011.
He had persuaded the girl into sex by saying she "will get used to it".
The incidents took place at staircase landings in Tampines and Pasir Ris, as well as a flat in Tampines.
The prosecution proceeded on three of the five charges.
The court was told that Lee and the student got closer after chatting on Facebook and he even asked her to be his girlfriend.
The student eventually agreed and they started engaging in kissing and petting.
On various occasions during the offences, the girl would push the accused away or stop him from going further but would relent after persuasion.
Prosecutor Ng Yiwen urged the court to impose a jail term of between 12 and 18 months for each charge.
He argued that the victim was young and vulnerable.
The court heard that the girl had told Lee she did not want to lose her virginity but Mr Ng said the accused went ahead to have a variety of sexual acts.
He pointed out that the victim only consented due to Lee's persistence and emotional manipulation.
The most aggravating factor, Mr Ng said, was that Lee was the girl's teacher and was expected to set a good example.
In pleading for his client's leniency, lawyer Adrian Wee pointed out that the variety of sexual acts was a "natural progression in a relationship".
Mr Wee stressed that there is no evidence to suggest that there was emotional manipulation on the part of Lee.
He added that there is no evidence to show that Lee planned to exploit his student.
The lawyer pointed out that the two were in a relationship. The relationship was then ended as Lee felt it was inappropriate.
Mr Wee urged the court for a jail term of two years but District Judge Toh Yung Cheong noted the seriousness of the offences.
Besides being armed with a diploma in counselling, the judge said the accused was also trained to keep a professional distance with his clients and students.
He said Lee should have known better. - CNA/fa
