FORMER principal of St Andrew’s Christian School in Grafton, Frank Bailey, 44, was sentenced yesterday to a minimum of two years and three months in prison, with a maximum sentence of three years and nine months, after pleading guilty to five counts of sexual intercourse over four days with a 16-year-old in his care.

Judge John Northsaid it was‘difficult to think of a more blatant abuse of trust’.

With time already served, Bailey will be eligible for parole on August 8 next year.

This is the testimony written by the teenage victim and read to the District Court during sentencing proceedings. The text has been edited slightly to remove details that could identify the teenager, but is otherwise the full account as read verbatim to the court:

HELLO, my name is ... and I am 18 years old. When I was 16 Frank Bailey, principal of St Andrew’s, sexually assaulted me. I was in the middle of completing Year 11. This has caused me a lot of problems emotionally, socially and with education, and also with my family and friends.

I did not finish my Year 11 that year, nor did I do anything the year after. Because of the ‘grooming’ from Frank, I lost most of my friends and was bullied throughout most of the year. I also lost the rest of my friends through the withdrawal I had when I went forward to the police. I found it so hard to deal with the attack again, I moved away from Grafton for three months.

I never used to find it hard to make friends and was always the first to greet a new student. Now I hate being around new people and I don’t like making friends. I have made a couple of friends but not in Grafton and still, after being friends for over 18 months, I find it hard to be with them. I like to have what we are doing planned out so nothing new happens. I become quite sick before going out with them because of my nerves over what they think of me and the thought that they are only my friends because they are sorry for me.

My family has been hurt so much throughout this whole ordeal and that hurts me. I hate how my brother quit his job and moved back home to be close to everyone again. I know I’m the one who made him do that.

I feel bad that my little sister is not allowed to go to a sleepover at a friend’s house like a normal (kid). Instead she has to miss out or invite them home.

It stresses me when I see my mum get sick in front of my eyes because of all the strength and support she needs to give when the case gets put off again and again, when she doesn’t have enough for herself.

I hate what has happened to my family because of Frank. I want it back the way it was, when we used to gather and laugh, not gather and talk about a court case that seems to be never-ending.

My family now carry me through the day and every few days I call one of my brothers to see how they are. My family has gotten used to me turning up to one of their houses because I’m so overwhelmed with something that I need time out. They have also become used to making my phone calls for me, as I am overwhelmed at the thought of even making a doctor’s appointment.

My boyfriend has been an unfailing support for me even though my moods now change at the drop of a hat. Ever since the attack everyone has learnt to walk on eggshells because my moods now change so suddenly. They even take me by surprise. I ring my boyfriend crying nearly every day because of some simple little thing. I hate always crying and I do it a lot since the attack. I find it hard to talk to anyone in my family, including my boyfriend, about the attack and it hurts to keep it inside. I used to be a loud mouth and couldn’t keep a secret, but now I won’t even tell my mum how much hurt I have going on inside me.

Since the age of seven I have always wanted to become a teacher. Since I left school in Year 11 due to the attack and all the bullying I received, I never had the chance to finish my Year 12. I could have entered university through some exams but I was not emotionally ready when it was time. I lost my chance to turn that dream into a reality.

At the start of this year, with a lot of pushing from my mum and my boyfriend, I entered a course, which is a year long. I had a lot of problems entering another learning environment as I was petrified of getting bullied and this really upsets me, as I loved going to school before the attack. I have missed quite a lot of (the course) due to being sick for emotional reasons; this usually includes nightmares the night before and unstable thoughts.

The biggest issue I had going to (the course) was the fact that I had a male teacher for some of my classes. I find it hard to concentrate in those classes with thoughts going through my head. I get very worried when we have to do in-class assignments with the teacher (these are one-on-one verbal assignments) as I hate being alone with a male and so I usually rush my assignments and I forget things.

It used to be a hard job to shut me up, as I was always loud and willing to have a fun time. Now I am quiet and reserved. I turned to my books instead of talking to people.

I used to be in control of my mind but now I believe my mind controls me. I cry when I don’t want to. Sometimes I don’t even know why I am crying. I get angry without knowing why. I get upset over something that should not faze me and have become forgetful about little things and that drives me crazy. I get anxious quickly in crowds of people.

Before the sexual assault, the dark wouldn’t worry me, but now I cannot even walk into a dark place without feeling scared and alone. I won’t even go outside my own house if it is dark now. I hate being terrified of everything. I hate being alone even if it is at home. I hate walking a1one down the street. I always look over my shoulder. I don’t even look at people who pass me by. I hate shopping by myself and often will not go if there someone is not with me.

I hate not having the freedom I used to have.

I used to get out of bed every day and looked forward to playing my sport. I used to play for New South Wales and I used to have my own team of young children whom I would teach. But since the attack I have given up all of my sport because I could not handle wondering if people knew what had happened and what they thought. I leave Grafton every time I hear there is a write-up in the paper because I’m scared someone will realise it is me. I feel like I cannot even be in my home town during these times. It is really distressing when people come up to me and ask me about it or want to gossip about who it could be.

Four words that Frank Bailey said to me during the sexual assault were ‘this is your fault’ and I believed him. This was because I trusted him. He was my principal. I believed that things like this happen only on TV. I was very naive. Because of the break in trust I find it hard to trust anyone and this affects my relationship with my friends, my boyfriend and also my family. I find that I will not place my trust in anyone new and always have to do things myself instead of asking others to help me.

My self-esteem has been ripped to shreds and this causes havoc with my course, as I find it hard to complete tasks where I need to speak to parents or guardians. My self-respect has also been destroyed. I still believe I deserved the bullying that was prompted by the assaults and that maybe it was my fault that this happened. I have spent hundreds of dollars travelling to see my sexual assault counsellor and on the phone who has tried to point out to me that men like Frank tell that to victims to keep them quiet.

I have my days when this court case just about puts me over the edge. I try to get on with rebuilding my life, but the mention of it brings it all back.

I do find myself wanting to end my life quite a lot, especially when things get hard. I find I don’t cope with plans changing or something goes wrong. I wish there was a way I could be the old me again.