Teacher’s alleged plot to ‘pimp’ out drugged children
Miklos Bolza and Tom Wark |
A teacher who allegedly plotted to drug and sexually assault two minors has lost his bid for bail after being deemed a danger to the community.
Peter James Adam, 63, had been employed by International Grammar School in inner Sydney at the time he was arrested in Bondi in the city’s east on Wednesday.
Police swooped after finding allegedly incriminating messages between him and another accused, Todd Anthony Soulas, who is also before the courts.
In conversations between the men from June 2024 to July 2025, Adam allegedly plotted the sexual assaults.
Police prosecutors described the alleged facts behind the case as “abhorrent and concerning”, when the teacher first appeared in a virtual Bail Court on Thursday.
“These facts depict the accused actively taking steps to allow (the children) to be drugged and sexually assaulted by the co-accused,” magistrate Margaret Quinn was told.
Adam watched the hearing by videolink from a cell at Surry Hills police station.
In reading the alleged conversations, Ms Quinn said: “(They’re) fairly revolting sort of messages I have to say – graphic”.
Prosecutors revealed the 63-year-old had talked about “pimping” out the young boy so he could get extra cash and sending the girl’s underwear to Soulas’ place.
Adam took photos of both children in vulnerable positions with his 35-year-old co-accused planning to use artificial intelligence to create child abuse material, police prosecutors said.
The teacher allegedly said the girl was going to be much harder to get involved in the plot.
“Well, that’s fine, we can drug her,” Soulas allegedly said.
“We can record her having sex with a dog and own her anonymously.”
Prosecutors opposed Adam’s release on bail, saying he would pose a danger to the alleged victims and the community and could interfere with witnesses.
Legal Aid solicitor Julian Balloot urged the court to release his client, proposing a suite of bail conditions to mitigate any risk.
This included living at a North Sydney address, reporting to police daily, surrendering his passport and being barred from using encrypted apps or more than one mobile phone.
Ms Quinn did not release the teacher on bail, finding the risk was too great.
She noted the exceedingly strong case against him.
Adam did not speak but bowed his head as the decision was handed down.
His wife Genet Erickson-Adam, a deputy head at prestigious private school Cranbrook, was also listening to the virtual hearing.
Police located the chats after three mobile phones were seized from Soulas’ home before he was arrested in September.
Soon after police publicised that Adam had been charged, International Grammar School edited social media posts from October to remove any reference to the teacher.
Posts on Instagram and Facebook celebrating World Teacher’s Day were scrubbed of the man’s name and photo on Thursday morning.
Adam was arrested on Wednesday morning, charged with two counts of incitement to commit aggravated sex assault in company and using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material.
An International Grammar School spokeswoman said he would be stood down.
“The school has assured parents and carers that the safety of IGS students remains the school’s highest priority,” she told AAP.
“Ongoing support has been offered to members of the IGS community who may experience distress or have concerns in response to the allegations.”
Soulas has been hit with 23 separate charges including the aggravated sexual assault of a child, child prostitution, using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, and possessing and disseminating child abuse and bestiality material.
He remains on remand and will next appear before Burwood Local Court on February 4.
Adam’s next appearance will be before Waverley Local Court on March 12.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
AAP
