A married teacher accused of sexually abusing a student allegedly said: “I’m going to jail, aren’t I?” when detectives arrived at the school to speak to her, a court heard.
Tayla Lee Brailey, 30, was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old boy she taught at Lurnea High School in Sydney’s southwest on multiple occasions in July.
She has been charged with sexual contact, sexual intercourse with a person under her care and aggravated sexual assault, and has been granted bail on strict conditions, including residing with her parents in Wollongong.
The allegations, which were outlined in police records obtained by the Daily Telegraph and referred to in court, claim the situation developed when the boy and Brailey began chatting after he added her on Snapchat in early July.
According to the documents, the conversation was initially “general” chat but allegedly turned sexual, with Brailey sending nude photos and videos of herself masturbating and receiving photos and videos from the boy in return.
Police will allege Brailey, who was married just 11 months ago, invited the boy to her West Wollongong home in mid-July, where they kissed and she masturbated him.
At one point, a friend who had accompanied the boy home allegedly witnessed the sexual act, according to the documents.
A week later, while at work, Brailey allegedly asked the boy to meet him and he arranged to meet her at a secluded location near the school, where they had sex in the back of a car.
Tayla Brailey (pictured) has been charged with allegedly raping a student.
According to documents, she then allegedly went to a pharmacy and purchased the morning-after pill.
After that, the couple allegedly stopped communicating until Brailey contacted him, accusing him of telling others about their sexual encounters, which he denied, police will allege.
Nearly two weeks later, police arrived at Lurnea High School on Tuesday to speak with Brailey, who reportedly became “hysterical” when detectives confronted him about the allegations.
According to the documents, she allegedly said: “I’m going to go to jail, right? I’m going to lose my family, my husband, my job.”
When interviewed by police, the boy said he felt he “had to” send intimate images to Brailey to keep her “happy,” according to the documents.
Following his arrest, Brailey spent the night in Amber Laurel Correctional Centre before appearing at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday.
The prosecution told the court the case against Brailey was “strong” as she had made admissions and evidence had been obtained from her phones and those of the alleged victim.
The court also heard that Brailey admitted to police that he had spoken to two other students on social media apps.
Brailey’s parents are pictured outside Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday, where their daughter was granted bail.
Brailey appears in the photo from her bachelorette party in Bali, before her wedding last September.
Brailey – who also uses her married name Rizza – was released on strict conditions by magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim, including that she remain at her parents’ home and only leave the house if accompanied by one of her parents.
They must also surrender their passport, respect the curfew and not approach the school.
Brailey had been working for the NSW Department of Education since October 2017, after completing a Bachelor of Physical Education and Health at the University of Wollongong.
The 30-year-old got engaged to her partner in December 2021 and married in September last year.
She celebrated her hen party in Bali with friends and family, spending time at the popular Finns Beach Club, and shared several snaps on social media.
He also appeared on Channel Seven’s quiz show The 1% Club earlier this year.
The education department confirmed the teacher had been suspended without pay and that support was being provided to staff and students at the school.
The matter is due to come back to court on October 2.