A Melbourne primary school teacher who sexually abused two eight-year-old pupils during a sleep-over at her home continued to deny her crimes, a court has been told.
Josephine Greensill, 59, sexually assaulted the boys in a tent she put up in her suburban Melbourne backyard while her husband and children were inside their home, the Victorian County Court heard on Wednesday.
Last month, a jury found her guilty of nine counts involving kissing, indecent touching and sexual penetration.
Prosecutor John Livitsanos told the pre-sentence hearing her offending was of the worst type.
He said the boys were groomed, given treats and treated as teacher's pets at the school where she taught in Melbourne's outer east.
"This is a breach of trust and authority of the highest order," he said.
"They really didn't know what was going on. They weren't really in tune with what sex was."
One victim said he was traumatised by the incident.
"I've been attracted to unhealthy relationships all of my life. I've always been suspicious of women and what they want from me," he said in his victim statement.
The second victim also found it difficult to trust women and teachers.
He said in his statement he left school at 15 to work in a factory so he could get away from the memories.
"At the first chance I got, I left school to get away from the never ending teasing and name calling I received," he said.
"I feel that as a direct result of the terrible assault that I was subjected to at the age of eight, I have and will always be closed off and difficult to talk with and indeed live with.
"This person and her actions have had such a major effect on mine and my family's lives.
"What she did to me will haunt me for the rest of my life."
Defence barrister Chris Carr described his client as a generous and caring mother of five and the offences were out of character.
He said he could not comment on her remorse because she continued to deny the crimes.
Mr Carr said there was no doubt both victims were significantly affected by the incident, but added: "The problems people have in adulthood cannot simply ... be solely related to an event that occurred in childhood."
He asked that Greensill, formerly Josephine Sumpton, be spared jail, saying she was unlikely to reoffend.
But Judge Gabriele Cannon said the boys were at a tender age and Greensill had exploited her teaching position.
The crown asked that she be jailed for five to seven years.
Greensill, of Altona Meadows, was remanded in custody for sentencing on August 10.