Naomi Tekea Craig
Facebook: Naomi Craig

Naomi Tekea Craig, a 33-year-old married music teacher from Mandurah in Western Australia, has admitted to a harrowing string of sexual offences against a male student, including the heinous act of penetrating a child under 13, in a shocking case that has reignited debate over child safeguards in schools.

Appearing via audio link in the court on 27 January 2026, Craig pleaded guilty to all 15 charges laid against her and admitted to a prolonged pattern of sexual abuse while she was in a position of trust and authority.

The case, which has sent shockwaves, took a disturbing turn following revelations that Craig gave birth to a baby on 8 January 2026, with DNA testing confirming the victim—now 13—is the father.

As the former Frederick Irwin Anglican School employee awaits a sentencing mention in the Perth District Court on 27 March, the Mandurah community is left grappling with the betrayal of trust by an educator.

Court disclosures, including DNA evidence linking the victim to Craig's newborn child, have added a deeply disturbing dimension to a case prosecutors describe as among the most serious of its kind under Western Australian law.

Plea and 15 Charges Laid In Court

Craig appeared via audio link in the Mandurah Magistrates Court and entered guilty pleas to all 15 offences, which spanned from August 2024 to December 2025, during which she was employed as a music teacher at Frederick Irwin Anglican School in Meadow Springs, south of Perth.

Craig's defence counsel confirmed her intent to plead guilty to all counts, and Magistrate Clare Cullen renewed her bail with strict protective conditions, including a prohibition on unsupervised contact with any child except her newborn.

A Shocking Admission

The courtroom was reportedly sombre as Magistrate Clare read out the 15 offences. Craig, a mother-of-two who had recently gone on maternity leave from her role at the school, answered 'guilty' to every count. The charges reflect a persistent and escalating pattern of abuse that began when the victim was just 12 years old.

The list of admitted offences includes:

* Five counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13.

* Five counts of sexual penetration of a child aged between 13 and 16.

* Persistent sexual conduct with a child under 16.

* Possession of child exploitation material.

* Indecent dealings with a child under 13 and between 13 and 16.

Education Career and Alleged Abuse

Craig was employed as a music teacher at Frederick Irwin Anglican School in Meadow Springs, a private school south of Perth.

The Frederick Irwin Anglican School acted swiftly following Craig's arrest in late 2025. Principal Tracey Gray informed parents via a letter that the teacher had been suspended and barred from the campus. While the school has maintained that the offences did not involve any current students, the 'apparent normality' under which the music teacher operated has led to calls for a broader review of safeguarding protocols in private education.

Police allege that the offending began in late 2024 when the boy was 12 and continued into 2025.

Evidence presented to police indicated Craig engaged in persistent sexual conduct with the boy, and initial charges laid in late 2025 included persistent conduct and possession of child exploitation material.

Subsequently, further charges were added, including multiple counts of sexual penetration and indecent dealings, bringing the total to 15.

Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch described child sex offences as 'heinous' and noted the aggravation where the offender is in a position of authority.

The Newborn and DNA Evidence

One of the most disturbing and unusual aspects of this case is that Craig gave birth on 8 January 2026, and police say DNA testing strongly suggests the victim is the father of the newborn.

Commissioner Blanch confirmed that DNA results indicate the alleged victim fathered the baby, though he was unable to provide further specifics because the matter is before the courts.

Bail conditions explicitly prohibit illicit contact with any minors other than her infant, and the magistrate warned that breach would lead to serious consequences.

Legal Context and Sentencing Prospects

Under Western Australian law, sexual penetration of a child under 13 is among the most serious indictable offences, often carrying a maximum custodial sentence of life imprisonment, depending on circumstances and judicial discretion.

While sentencing will not occur until the District Court hearing in March 2026, prosecutors may point to the extended period of offending and the vulnerable age of the victim as aggravating factors.

Similarly, possession of child exploitation material and persistent sexual conduct offences carry significant penalties designed to reflect the gravity of harm inflicted on victims and safeguard community interests.

Pertinently, guilty pleas sometimes result in reduced sentences in recognition of early admission, but those reductions are weighed against the severity and nature of the conduct.

Craig's guilty pleas mark a harrowing chapter in Mandurah's community record and stress persistent challenges confronting child protection systems.

Community Impact and Safeguarding Questions

Craig's admissions have sent shockwaves through the Mandurah community.

The case underscores the challenges child protection systems face when abuse occurs within institutions designed to nurture and protect young people. Authorities have not disclosed how the offence came to light, though the investigation reportedly began in late 2025.

Craig's next court appearance will determine what punishment she faces for crimes that have left a community grappling with betrayal at its most fundamental level.