Former Auckland teacher jailed for three years for abusing students

Benjamin Swann, 56.
Benjamin Swann, 56. Photo credit: RNZ / Dan Cook

A former Auckland school teacher who was found guilty of abusing four teenage boys has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Benjamin Swann, 56, was sentenced at the High Court in Auckland this morning by Justice Moore.

Justice Moore told Swann the evidence against him was strong, and he had abused the students' trust as their teacher and role model.

Swann pleaded not guilty to 10 charges of doing an indecent act on a young person.

He denies abusing four teenage boys who have each given evidence against during a retrial.

The jury of six women and six men found Swann guilty of five of the 10 charges he faced, but it was unable to reach a verdict on the other five.

RNZ