Auckland Court: School Worker Sentencing Delayed

A former school employee stood in Auckland District Court on Friday as the judge determined whether her sentence for sex with four underage boys would be served in prison. Hannah Lealiiee, 45, had previously pleaded guilty to two grooming charges and four representative charges of sexual conduct with a young person. The proceedings paused on the day of sentencing, with Judge Nicola Mathers requesting additional time to review the case materials before delivering a final decision in November.

Lealiiee occupied various roles at several schools, though the specific institution her victims attended has been permanently suppressed by the court. The four victims were identified as teens and pre-teens. During police interviews, Lealiiee acknowledged that she knew her actions were wrong but believed they were acceptable because she considered herself a friend to the boys. She stated to investigators that she enjoyed the attention the young men gave her.

Crown lawyer Ben Bosomworth argued against reducing the sentence based on the defense’s explanation that Lealiiee lacked adult sexual partners at the time. He described the behavior toward the first victim as planned and premeditated, noting that Lealiiee identified the target, groomed him, and booked a hotel to facilitate the sexual contact. Bosomworth emphasized that this conduct went far beyond sporadic instances, leveraging the significant age gap and the breach of trust inherent in her position of authority within the school.

The court heard details of the interactions with each boy. With the first victim, Lealiiee initiated contact via text, leading to months of contact that ended when his older brother intervened. With a second boy, she threatened to report his school behavior to the principal to keep him close. She used similar messaging tactics with the third and fourth boys, including telling one, “I could go to jail for this.”

Defense lawyer Stu Kett argued that the sexual contact was sporadic over an extended period. He sought discounts on the sentence due to Lealiiee’s guilty pleas, remorse, and background. Kett noted that his client was already in pre-trial detention and using the time to work on becoming a contributing member of society. He conceded there was no argument against a custodial sentence but urged for a reduced term.

A small group of whānau and friends supported Lealiiee in the courtroom, while none of the four victims were present. The judge did not announce the length of the prison sentence on the day, leaving the final determination for the coming month.