Former teacher Tayla Lee Brailey jailed for sex acts with students

• By Charles Rushforth

• ABC Illawarra

• Topic:Courts

Posted Wed 28 Oct 2026 at 4:40pmWed 28 Oct 2026 at 4:40pm

A woman who taught at a Sydney high school has been given a 15-month prison sentence for sexual offences involving two male students.

Tayla Lee Brailey appeared in Parramatta District Court today after pleading guilty to four charges relating to sex acts committed against two teenage students in 2024, including using a carriage service to transmit and access child abuse material.

Judge Elizabeth Ryan said the manner in which Brailey had broken the trust between teacher and student warranted a custodial sentence.

"Offences like this cause immense harm to the trust that must exist between families and the education system," Judge Ryan said.

"For these reasons … no penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate."

'Terrible mistakes'

Brailey was first arrested by detectives at a Sydney school in August 2024, when she was charged with offences relating to sexual touching and sexual intercourse with a person under special care.

After being released on bail, she was arrested again less than two weeks later and charged with multiple sex offences relating to a second teenage student.

The court heard Brailey had initiated contact with one teenager.

Reading a psychologist report tendered to the court, Judge Ryan said Brailey had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was likely experiencing a manic episode at the time of the offending.

"In July 2023, Ms Brailey made terrible mistakes," Judge Ryan said.

"She used her position as a teacher … to abuse the trust of two young persons."

Brailey will be eligible for parole on April 24, 2027.

Judge Ryan made orders for her to be placed on the NSW Police child protection register for 15 years.