AusLeisure

A former Sydney dance teacher who sexually abused nine students over more than a decade has been sentenced to a minimum 18 years' jail.

Grant Davies, aged 42, who ran the RG Dance studio in the Sydney suburb of Chiswick, was arrested in May 2013 after his wife found inappropriate messages to a student on his phone.

Having pleaded guilty to 28 charges in September last year, Davies was today (21st October)

Sentenced to a maximum of 24 years by Judge Jennie Girdham in the NSW District Court.

He will not be eligible for parole in May 2034.

During her sentencing remarks, Judge Girdham said Davies’ offending was "predatory and persistent" adding that “the offender abused a position of authority and trust.”

The court heard Davies would often tell his victims that he loved them and, after indecently assaulting one student, he sent her a text saying: "Hiii.Yayyy. That felt so special."

In a text message to another student he said: "I can't go to bed until you tell me you love me".

Davies also used his students to make child pornography, encouraging them to send naked pictures and videos.

One victim told police in her interview: "I didn't want to do the videos and photos for him but it was the only way I thought I would become a professional dancer."

In September 2014, a Sydney mother was jailed for 18 months for sending Davies sexually explicit and degrading images of her daughters.

Image of Grant Davies. Facebook.

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