Meanwhile in NZ: Man accused of unlawful sexual acts with shoes...
Good to know there are lawful sexual acts with shoes . . . presumably with consent in the privacy of one's own cobbler's premises.
Quote:
Man accused of unlawful sexual acts with shoes was a high school student teacher
A trauma crisis team has been called to a Palmerston North school where a man accused of performing sexual acts with other people’s shoes for fetish websites was on placement as a student teacher.
Malachai Scott Roger Wylie has allegedly performed lewd acts while working at the city’s Number One Shoes store.
He’s also believed to have messaged women using fake profiles on social media asking for pictures of their shoes.
The pictures were then posted online, along with pictures of the women, without their knowledge. There are potentially dozens of victims.
As a student teacher in 2020, Wylie had a placement at Freyberg High School in term 2.
Principal Peter Brooks said the Education Ministry’s trauma team and police were at the school on Tuesday.
It was possible students at the school had been contacted by Wylie, or one of his aliases, on social media asking for pictures of shoes.
Brooks said the students felt violated that Wylie had been in their class, potentially looking at their shoes and taking pictures.
The school was also wondering how Wylie made it on to the teachers’ college course at Massey University.
“There are a lot of people, staff and students, feeling vulnerable at the moment. I feel violated myself. I feel that I haven’t protected them [students]. How did he get through the net?”
Wylie, 23, would have always had another teacher present in class with him, Brooks said.
In a letter to parents Brooks said the school had contacted families of students in classes taught by Wylie.
“It is very sad indeed that though neither our students or staff have done [anything] at all wrong many are feeling violated by his actions and we need to support them in every way that we can.”
SUPPLIED
Wylie was a student teacher last year, and did placements at high schools in Manawatū.
Ministry senior manager Katrina Casey said its traumatic incident team would work closely with Freyberg and police to make sure students were well-supported. Another school had sought advice from the ministry.
Wylie also had a placement at Longburn Adventist College late in 2020.
A statement from principal Brendan van Oostveen said Wylie was there for a “short period of time”.
“We have communicated with parents in the school community around the details associated with this man and his role as a student teacher.
“The school community has also been given the opportunity to seek ongoing support from the school and police.”
A Massey spokeswoman said Wylie wasn’t presently a student at the university. The university couldn’t comment on individual students for privacy reasons, nor comment on this matter while it was before the courts.
Students at teachers’ college must pass a police check.
According to court documents, Wylie faces two charges of behaving in an offensive manner in Number One Shoes on April 4 and April 15 this year. He also faces a charge of theft of a customer’s insole, worth $10, on March 19.
He appeared in the Palmerston North District Court in late April and will reappear later in May.
Police have confirmed a report of Wylie’s alleged offending was received on April 13. He was arrested on April 24.
Number One shoes on Wednesday released a statement saying it was “deeply concerned” by the alleged offending and its effect on Wylie’s colleagues and customers.
Number One Shoes was helping police with its investigation and would conduct an independent review of its processes, “to ensure we have captured every opportunity to prevent any such offending in the future”.
“Our priority and focus are on supporting our team members through this extremely difficult matter. We are appreciative of our team who have been exemplary in their response.”
Wylie previously worked at The Warehouse in Palmerston North. The Warehouse has been approached for comment.
At his house on Wednesday Wylie declined to comment.
Man accused of unlawful sexual acts with shoes was a high school student teacher | Stuff.co.nz
I'm sure PlanKaren will vilify me for posting this but in Israel/Palestine close to 100 dead . . . in NZ an insole thief.
