A 26-year-old student teacher accused of indecently assaulting a pupil and sending him a sext has been given a stern warning in court not to contact him in any way.
Petra Shasha was granted bail at ACT Magistrates Court on Monday after spending the night in custody.
She has been banned from going anywhere near three schools or contacting the boy who police allege she had an inappropriate relationship with.
Officers searched her home in Gowrie, in Canberra’s south, on Sunday before she was arrested and charged with one count of committing an act of indecency against the 15-year-old boy and one count of using a carriage service to send indecent material to him.
Prosecutor Sam Bargwanna told the court that he would not oppose bail and it was granted by magistrate Beth Campbell.
Mr Bargwanna said it was expected more charges would be laid.
“The defendant comes before the court with these fresh charges; bail is not opposed from the prosecution’s perspective,” he said.
“It’s likely fresh charges will be laid before the next court date.”
The court was told that between November 2020 and February 2022, Ms Shasha allegedly sent indecent material to the boy knowing he was underage.
Between December 2020 and June 2021 she is also accused of committing an act of indecency on the 15-year-old boy.
As part of her strict bail conditions she is not to contact or go within 100m of six people involved in the case, including the boy.
She has also been banned from going within 100m of Canberra Girls Grammar School, St Edmunds College and St Clare’s College.
Ms Shasha will be allowed to collect her belongings from Canberra Girls in the company of Australian Federal Police.
Mr Bargwanna asked the magistrate to reiterate the importance of not contacting the boy – noting he had evidence she had been.
“There is some material before me that indicates that prior to today the defendant contacted the complainant,” he said.
“I would just ask you reiterated to her the serious consequences that would follow if she were to do so in future.”
Ms Campbell then gave Ms Shasha a stern warning.
“Please understand, not contact directly or indirectly means you can’t send SMS’s you can’t send messages through somebody else, you can’t contact them on social media, you can’t write them a letter … any contact whatsoever … will be seen as a breach,” she said.
“If you see them in a shopping centre and they approach you, you get away as quickly as you can because a court order trumps everything.”
Ms Shasha walked out of the court a short time later dressed in black shorts and a jumper, accompanied by her lawyer Rachel Fisher.
She refused to speak to media.
Her xjmtzywnext court appearance will be on March 21.
