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	Former Churchie Teacher Jailed for Abuse By Christine Flatley Sydney Morning Herald November 4, 2010 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/former-churchie-teacher-jailed-for-abuse-20101104-17f47.html A teacher who was confused about his sexual identity thought he had found "true love" with a 12-year-old male student, a court has been told. Christopher Michael Klemm, 52, was stood down from his role as deputy headmaster at East Brisbane's Anglican Church "Churchie" Grammar Preparatory School last year after his victim reported the abuse to police. Klemm on Thursday was sentenced to five years' jail after pleading guilty in the Brisbane District Court to three counts of indecent treatment of a child and one of sodomy. Advertisement: Story continues below That jail term will be suspended after he has served 15 months behind bars. The court was told Klemm was a teacher and boarding schoolmaster at Churchie in 1985 when he started a three-year sexual relationship with a 12-year-old student. Prosecutor Vicki Loury told the court Klemm had gained the trust of the student - whose mother had died when he was a young boy - by acting as a father figure. The court was told one of the sexual offences occurred at the school, while the others took place at Klemm's Highgate Hill unit, where he would give the boy alcohol and cigarettes. In a victim impact statement, the former student said Klemm made him feel special. "I held Mr Klemm in such high regard and he definitely filled a void in my life at the time as a father figure," he said. "At the most crucial point in my life he took advantage of me." Defence barrister Catherine Cuthbert said her client had committed the offences at a time when he was feeling confused about his sexual identity. "He's at a loss to explain why he became infatuated with the complainant," Ms Cuthbert said. "He said that he thought he had found true love." The court was told that Klemm's 11-year relationship had broken down since the details of abuse had surfaced, and that he had lost his career and his home. The courtroom was packed with supporters for the former teacher, many of whom had provided references abouthis good character. Klemm will be released from jail in 2012.
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