Embattled Teacher to face Judge and Jury for rape

Former Bishops’ High School Teacher, Coen Jackson was on Tuesday committed to stand trial at the High Court for the offence of rape.

The decision was made following a paper committal before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Jackson remains on $300,000 bail until the matter is called in the High Court. The case was prosecuted by Police Corporal Shawn Gonsalves while Jackson was represented by attorney Attorney -at- Law, Siand Dhurjon.

Jackson, 39 is charged with engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 by abusing the position of trust at Durban Street, Lodge between December 2010 and May 2011.

Jackson, 39, and a teacher for over 15 years is at the center of a sex scandal where he is accused of grooming and having sexual relations with his students once they reach the age of consent, which is 16 years old.

In December last year, Jackson was arrested for the rape and sexual assault of a former student of the Bishops’ High School who is now 22-years-old. The incident reportedly occurred at Durban Street, Lodge between December 2010 and May 2011 while the victim was a student of the educational institution.

The issue was first brought to the fore by Cultural Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ruel Johnson, who wrote a letter of complaint to Chief Education Officer, Marcel Huston.

The Ministry conducted its own investigations and a decision was made to suspend Jackson. In the letter of complaint, Johnson detailed numerous reports he received from present and past students of the teacher, who allegedly sexualized his lessons, had inappropriate conversations with female students and engaged in multiple sexual relationships with female students.

At a press conference on November 21, 2017, the embattled teacher admitted to having sex with two of his former students of the Bishops’ High School but denied allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him.

“You can’t stop people from falling in love,” he had said.