Former teacher pleads Not Guilty to nineteen counts of child sexual abuse

A former teacher has pleaded not guilty to nineteen counts of child sexual abuse dating back to between 2007 and 2016.

43-year-old Clayton Busto appeared at the Supreme Court on Thursday, where the charges were put to him. They include sexual activity with minors and encouraging child sexual abuse material with four boys who were allegedly under 18 and under 16 at the time. He denies all allegations.

Mr Busto’s trial is scheduled for three weeks in June. Presiding over the case, the Chief Justice urged lawyers on both sides that it was essential everything was ready for that date, so the trial could go ahead. Anthony Dudley said it would not be acceptable to lose that slot in the court diary.

The defendant remains on bail until his trial.