Ex-teacher accused of sex with schoolgirl

Daniel Raymond Belcher's identity can now be revealed after his charges were mentioned for the first time in Maitland Local Court on Friday. The 39-year-old, who has since been fired, attended the courthouse but did not have to appear in the courtroom when his matter was called. Tthe police prosecutor asked for eight weeks to finish compiling the brief of evidence. Magistrate Ron Maiden agreed and adjourned the case to Newcastle Local Court in June.

Court documents reveal detectives allege Belcher had sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old girl while she was under his care nine times between June and December 2023. He was arrested on March 28 and granted bail. His conditions were continued in court on Friday.

Belcher has not been required to enter pleas to nine counts of having sexual intercourse with a young person under special care, aged between 17 and 18 years old.

Belcher was put on administrative leave from his role on the teaching staff at the school's senior campus in March after allegations of "serious misconduct" arose, a statement from the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle said at the time.

In a letter sent to parents and carers earlier this month, All Saints' Maitland acting principal Nathan Mansfield confirmed the 39-year-old male teacher who had been charged by NSW Police was "no longer employed by the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle".

"This individual no longer holds accreditation to teach on a search of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) public register," he said.

Support was made available to members of the school community through the Diocesan Employee Assistance Program at 1800 613 155. They may also contact the Diocese's specialist child protection service, the Office of Safeguarding, at 4979 1390 or its confidential Whistleblower Hotline on 1300 989 183.