Justice served: Worcester teacher receives life sentence for classroom rape

A Worcester teacher has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a Grade 8 learner in his classroom.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as her life orientation teacher, he had built her trust through social media.

The State proved that on February 7, 2020, Jeremy Claasen raped the learner inside of his classroom.

Acting Worcester Regional Court prosecutor Cornelius Prinsloo led evidence which revealed that Claasen, 38, was her life orientation teacher in Grade 8.

Claasen started chatting with her on social media platforms when she joined the school in Grade 7.

He built up a relationship of trust and won her affection to the point where she felt comfortable around him.

On the day of the incident the learner went to Claasen’s classroom to charge her cellphone when she was approached by him. He closed the classroom door and told her to sit on a bench.  He made advances towards her despite her resistance, and raped her in the classroom. The NPA said three days later he was arrested after she reported the matter to friends, the school and police.

The teenager was examined at the Worcester Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), which also provided psycho-social support services.

The State presented the evidence of the victim through a television system with the assistance of an intermediary in a closed court session to avoid any secondary trauma of testifying in the presence of the accused.

“The State also led the evidence of the victim’s friend as the first report, as well as a medico-legal examination conducted by a doctor, which confirmed evidence of sexual penetration. Court Preparation Officer Azraa Majiet supported the victim during the trial and ensured she received court preparation,”Ntabazalila added.

Claasen claimed he had an alibi and told the court that he could not have perpetrated the offence as he was in court paying a traffic fine.

Prinsloo argued that the alibi was a recent fabrication as it was never put to the State witnesses during cross-examination. 

In aggravation of sentence, Prinsloo argued that Claasen manipulated his position of authority and trust and violated a learner in an environment where she was supposed to feel safe. 

“Based on his predatory actions towards her, it was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. He targeted her early on and waited for the right opportunity to satisfy his perverse needs and that based on his evidence before court that there exist no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment as the interest of the community and the seriousness of the offense far outweighs the personal circumstances of the accused,”Ntabazalila said.

Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell applauded the different roles played by the prosecuting and investigating team and staff of the Worcester Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC).

Cape Argus