A judge has convicted a former Whitby teacher of 16 counts of sexually assaulting and sexually exploiting elementary school students.

In delivering judgement Tuesday in Oshawa, Ontario Court Justice Marquis Felix rejected Thomas Grieve’s assertion that while he frequently touched students, he had never done so for a sexual purpose.

Grieve, 40, taught at Whitby’s Robert Munsch Public School from 2011 to 2018, and prior to that taught at E.A. Fairman Public School, also in Whitby.

“The central message of the defendant’s testimony was that while he engaged in the physical touching of students, he never touched a student in a sexual manner, or with sexual intent in his mind,” the judge said. “I do not believe either of these central positions advanced by the defendant.”

During a trial that began last May, Grieve pleaded not guilty to counts of sexual assault and sexual interference against 14 students between 2010 and 2018. Charges relating to a 15th complainant were withdrawn when the trial began May 28. During closing submissions in late July the Crown invited the judge to dismiss charges relating to another complainant; that left the judge to rule on charges relating to each of the remaining 13 complainants.

In Tuesday’s ruling, Felix convicted Grieve on 16 charges relating to eight children.

As the verdicts were delivered in a crowded courtroom, Grieve sat with his head down and his hands clasped in front of him, showing no overt reaction to the judge’s findings. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for November.

During the trial court heard from more than a dozen young people, some of them still in elementary school, who described incidents in which they’d been touched by Grieve and, in some cases, saw him touch others. The children alleged contact that included Grieve touching and caressing them on their buttocks and slipping his hand under their clothes.

Court heard that Grieve was a popular teacher and sports coach who had a knack for communicating with kids. But over time, because of the frequent touching, he came to be regarded as “creepy,” court heard.

Grieve was the lone defence witness. During his testimony he admitted he often touched children, but insisted this contact had been misinterpreted by the kids.

“I feel horrible that they perceive me to be touchy,” Grieve said at one point. “I also feel horrible that my teaching career is gone.”

Grieve’s defence lawyers, Justin Nasseri and Owen Goddard, also argued that gossip among the children had created a culture of collusion that distorted perceptions of the teacher’s conduct.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Grieve was first arrested in March 2018 on charges relating to eight complainants, with the allegations relating to the period from September 2016 to February 2018. In April 2018 he was charged with allegations relating to another seven complainants, some of them dating back to 2010.

A publication ban prohibits reporting on information that might identify any of the complainants.