‘Classroom Predators’ Spark Safety Fears: Infamous Cases Of Teachers Grooming Kids

Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 21:56 IST

A Mumbai teacher was arrested for sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old student by getting him drunk and feeding him anti-anxiety pills.

An alarming number of teachers having sexual relations with students have surfaced in recent years. (Representational image)

A Mumbai teacher was arrested for sexually assaulting a 16‑year‑old student, in a case that has shocked many people in the country, particularly due to the disturbing nature of the crime.

As per the details available, the teacher allegedly fed the Class 11 student anti-anxiety medicines, and got him drunk before forcing him into sexual encounters. The 40-year-old accused teacher is married with children, and taught English at an elite school in Mumbai.

Experts say such incidents take an extreme psychological toll on children, which affects their emotional, cognitive, and social development. Unfortunately, there are several such cases in India and abroad, where such “classroom predators" groom their students for sexual abuse.

ALSO READ: Sex Abuse By Mumbai Teacher: What It Does To Teen Survivors, Trauma Explained

Infamous Cases Of Teachers Grooming Kids

Before the Mumbai case, a teacher in the United States admitted to having a sexual relationship with a student. Jocelyn Sanroman, 26, was accused of being in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy in 2023 while teaching at Oakside Prep Academy. She was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Prior to that, Laura Caron, 24, a teacher in New Jersey, was convicted by a grand jury on June 17 on charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree sexual assault over an alleged relationship with a 13-year-old child giving birth to his daughter.

In May, a 36-year-old former teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in San Diego was sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison for sexual crimes against two minors. Prosecutors said Jacqueline Ma had groomed two boys and began a sexual relationship with one when he was 12 by sending love letters and suggestive texts.

Last year, a teacher in the UK was convicted of sexually abusing two schoolboys and becoming pregnant with one of them. Rebecca Joynes had groomed both boys from the age of 15 by exchanging messages, as per BBC, and gave birth to a boy in early 2024. She was sentenced to six-and-a-half years.

A Worrying Pattern

An alarming number of cases involving teachers and administrators engaging in inappropriate relationships with students have come to light in recent years, highlighting the pervasive issue of educator sexual misconduct.

A study by the Crimes Against Children Research Centre found that 1 in 10 children will experience sexual misconduct by a school employee at some point during their school career. There were over 500 cases of teacher misconduct between 2014 and 2019.

Teachers who engage in such acts frequently misuse their position of power to abuse students through emotional manipulation, gaslighting and coercion. This has resulted in several students, particularly in the US, suffering from long-term trauma, including anxiety, depression, and trust issues.

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