A former teacher who was jailed for sexual offences against a student has come under fire for disturbing blog posts in which she blamed her victim. Karly Rae, 34, was sentenced to at least six years in prison in 2023 for multiple counts of sexual intercourse with a person under her authority. The posts, written from prison and later deleted, revealed a pattern of victim-blaming and lack of remorse.
Disturbing Content
In the blog entries, Rae described the student as 'manipulative' and claimed the relationship was consensual, despite the student being under the age of consent and under her care as a teacher. She wrote that the victim 'knew what they were doing' and that she was the one who was 'hurt' by the situation. The posts were discovered by the victim's family, who reported them to authorities.
Victim Impact
The victim, now an adult, said the posts have caused further trauma. 'It feels like she is still trying to control the narrative and make me out to be the bad guy,' they said in a statement. 'I just want her to take responsibility and stop blaming me.'
Legal and Community Reaction
Legal experts have condemned the posts, saying they demonstrate a 'profound lack of insight' into the severity of her crimes. 'This is textbook victim-blaming, and it's harmful not only to the survivor but to society as a whole,' said Dr. Sarah Thompson, a criminologist at the University of Newcastle. 'It perpetuates myths that victims are somehow responsible for the abuse they suffer.'
The case has also sparked renewed calls for harsher penalties for teachers who abuse their position of trust. 'The fact that she can still blame her victim while serving time shows that our justice system needs to do more to protect children and hold offenders accountable,' said a spokesperson for the child protection advocacy group Bravehearts.
Prison Response
Corrective Services NSW confirmed that Rae's online activities were monitored and that the posts were removed as soon as they were brought to their attention. 'Inmates are not permitted to use social media or blogs to harass victims or engage in victim-blaming,' a spokesperson said. 'We have strict protocols in place to prevent such communications.'
Rae's legal team declined to comment on the posts, but sources say they are advising her to avoid further public statements that could jeopardize her parole prospects.
Broader Implications
The case highlights the ongoing issue of victim-blaming in sexual assault cases, particularly when the perpetrator is in a position of authority. 'It's a classic defense mechanism for offenders to shift blame onto their victims,' said Dr. Thompson. 'But it's deeply damaging and can discourage other survivors from coming forward.'
The victim's family has called for an independent inquiry into the handling of the case and the prison's oversight of inmates' communications. 'We need to ensure that no other family has to go through what we have,' they said. 'Karly Rae should be focusing on rehabilitation, not writing blog posts that cause more pain.'
