A Central Coast schoolteacher charged with repeatedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl over the past two months was allegedly trying to flee the country when he was arrested at Sydney Airport on Sunday night.
Police allege that Patrick Jan Starkey, a 42-year-old teacher at St Brigid’s Catholic College in Lake Munmorah, was intending to travel to South Africa via Perth before he was taken into custody.
Patrick Jan Starkey was arrested at Sydney Airport trying to flee the country.Credit: NSW Police
He was charged with seven counts of aggravated sexual intercourse and three counts of intentional sexual touching against a child, and grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity.
Starkey was immediately stood down by the school after it became aware of allegations on Friday, with his employment terminated following the arrest.
In a letter addressed to parents and carers, Danny Casey, director of schools at the Catholic Schools Broken Bay organisation, said student safety and wellbeing was his “highest priority” following the “distressing” revelation.
“We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding in our schools,” Casey wrote on Monday.
“I understand that this news is concerning and distressing. Please be assured that CSBB will provide the community with further updates whenever possible.”
St Brigid’s Catholic College in Munmorah.Credit: Google Streetview
Casey said the school was assisting NSW Police with investigations, including by offering any relevant details from the “rigorous screening” that occurred before his employment at the start of the 2025 school year.