Chris Dawson’s four-letter outburst after guilty verdict

Chris Dawson let loose with a string of expletives after he was found guilty of carrying on a sexual relationship with an underage student.

“F**k, f***k, f***, f**k,” Dawson muttered to himself after District Court Judge Sarah Huggett on Wednesday found him guilty of one count of carnal knowledge.

In a detailed and marathon judgment, which took over two-and-a-half hours to deliver, Judge Huggett found there were several key pieces of evidence to support allegations that Dawson in 1980 was involved in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old schoolgirl.

The 74-year-old has already been told that he can expect to die in prison after he was last year sentenced to a minimum of 18 years for the murder of his wife Lynette who disappeared from their Bayview home in early 1982.

Dawson is now a two-time convicted criminal after District Court Judge Sarah Huggett on Wednesday found him guilty of one count of carnal knowledge over his sexual relationship with a then 16-year-old student, who can only be known as AB.

It means Dawson now faces the prospect of having years added onto his sentence.

The former Newtown Jets back-rower fought the allegations at trial – denying the woman’s version of events that she was in his year 11 when they first engaged in sexual activities.

However, following a two-week trial earlier this month, Judge Huggett accepted AB’s testimony that they first engaged in sexual activity in his parent’s Maroubra home in about August or September 1980 when she was 16.

“I find that the evidence of the complainant that the accused had sexual intercourse with her at Maroubra between 1 July 1980 and 12 December 1980, which I have found was a period in which she was his student, is supported by a large amount of evidence before me,” Judge Huggett said as Dawson shook and dropped his head as he watched proceedings via AVL from jail.

During her testimony, AB told the court that she engaged in sexual activities with Dawson in the back seat of his car, in his school office and in a pool.

It was not in dispute that Dawson engaged in sexual activities with his teenage student at a time he was carried to Lynette Simms with two children.

But what was in issue was the timing of the first instance.

Through his barrister, Claire Wasley, he maintained that it did not occur until she was in year 12 in 1981.

During the trial, AB told Judge Huggett they first engaged in sexual activity at his parents’ home at a time when the elder Dawsons were away at their Shoalhaven holiday home.

AB told the court that afterwards he asked if she was OK and said: “I hope this was helpful”, “it was a good start” and “you did really well”.

“I was told to keep it a secret,” AB said.

Judge Huggett said while aspects of AB’s evidence were confused and unreliable, such as whether she attended fitness classes which were taught by Chris Dawson and his brother in 1980.

However, she did not find she was deliberately untruthful.

“My overall impression of the complainant was that she was a thoughtful witness, who gave evidence in a matter of fact and forthright way,” Judge Huggett said.

She claimed he first came across her the year before when a topless photo of her began circulating around the school playground and he handed it back to her.

AB said that Dawson later told her that he manoeuvred so that he would teach her class the following year.

She also said she would see him at the Time and Tide hotel on Sydney’s northern beaches on Friday nights.

“He used to sit there telling me about himself, how great he was,” AB said during her testimony.

“It was part of the grooming process … to get me to trust him, which I did.”

Judge Huggett described his presence at the pub as “behaviour that was consistent with a person who on occasion referred to himself as God.”

AB testified that Dawson left “hundreds” of love notes in her school bag and gave her cards on special occasions.

On one card tendered to the court and dated 1980, Dawson signed off “Love always, God.”

AB gave evidence that he referred to himself as “God” in an effort to disguise himself.

Judge Huggett said AB’s version of events was supported by several key pieces of evidence including;

* The testimony of a trolley boy who said he was threatened by Dawson after asking AB out on several occasions

* The testimony of her classmates, who said AB and Dawson were regularly seen together in the playground including one witness who said AB was seen sitting on Dawson’s lap in his office

* Cards and notes sent by Dawson to AB, including one dated Christmas 1980 and one on her 17th birthday.

AB had told the court Dawson made an “improper” advance to her during a driving lesson in 1980.

She said after the “improper act” in a parking lot at Dee Why Beach, Dawson told her “You make me feel like an older Ross”, which was a reference to one of her male friends.

And about a week later, she engaged in sexual activity with him for the first time, AB said.

The driving lesson emerged as a key issue during the trial as is at the heart of her timeline of events and when she says the first sexual activity occurred.

The court has heard she was not eligible to receive her learner’s permit until November 1980.

According to the indictment, Dawson was accused of engaging in sexual activities with the teen between July 1 and December 31 of 1980.

In her evidence, she later said the “improper” act may have in fact occurred when they were in fact spending time in the car.

She added that he often drove her to other places and it may not have been a driving lesson.

Outside court, Lynette Simms’ nephew David Jenkins told reporters that Dawson looked like a “defeated man”.

“I don’t know AB,” Mr Jenkins said.

“So I don’t I know how she’ll respond. I hope this helps her in her healing and get through what she’s gone through all these years.”

Dawson will return to court in September for sentencing proceedings.

Dawson has previously flagged his intention to appeal his murder conviction.