A TEACHER has been found guilty of depriving a teenager of sex on Grindr after a girl posed as a boy on the dating app to help catch alleged pedophiles.
William Roberto Gulson, 28, was convicted of procuring a child under the age of 16 for unlawful sexual activity after a three-day hearing in a Sydney court.
Gulson, a former Knox Grammar School teacher, began chatting in August 2024 with a profile run by two teenagers on the LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr, the court heard.
A 15-year-old girl pretended to be a Year 9 boy who “seeks an older man”.
Although the user was told he was 15, Gulson allegedly continued the sexual conversation for more than 40 minutes.
“Do you find it hot that you’re the same age as some of my students?” he asked before adding that he felt conflicted.
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After receiving the photo, Gulson replied: “Such a cute boy.”
The court was told he encouraged the teenager to sneak out of his parents’ house so they could meet and find a “quiet place” for sexual activity.
He also allegedly described in detail the sexual acts he wanted to perform, 9News reported.
In court, Gulson denied he believed he was talking to a child and claimed he thought the account belonged to a “crazy adult” pretending to be young.
“I believed I was dealing with a grown man who was using the site,” he told the court.
He also claimed that the search for “gay child porn” may have been automatically entered and said he did not remember typing it.
Judge Hugh Donnelly rejected these explanations, calling them “totally unpersuasive”.
“His answers had the stamp of recent invention,” the judge said.
The court heard Gulson’s internet history allegedly included searches for “film scene of rape of young boy” and “films about priests molesting boys”.
“The former teacher had a sexual interest in children,” Donnelly said, adding, “Together, that’s strong evidence.”
Gulson reportedly showed no emotion when the guilty verdict was handed down.
He now faces up to 12 years in prison.
His bail continued, meaning he can remain free until he returns to court for his sentence in March.
Gulson did not speak to reporters as he left court alongside his brother.
The teenager’s family called the courtroom to hear the outcome after she was granted special permission.
After Gulson’s arrest in 2024, Knox Grammar told parents that the teacher was immediately removed and his employment terminated.
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