A former primary school principal from Western Australia's Great Southern region has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting to a 'predatory' indecent assault on a 12-year-old girl.
Court Details Reveal Predatory Behaviour
Geoffrey Noel MacNicol, aged 59, was sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court in December to a 12-month term of imprisonment, which was fully suspended. The court heard the assault occurred in January 2025 during the summer holidays in the northern Perth suburb of Jindalee.
Magistrate Lynette Dias condemned the offending, stating it involved a significant breach of trust and a disparity of strength. "It was predatory and it was exploitative," Magistrate Dias told the court. The police prosecutor outlined that MacNicol, while inebriated, entered the bed of the young victim before leaving the room without saying anything.
Plea Deal and Defence Arguments
MacNicol, who was the headmaster of a Great Southern primary school and a former high school deputy principal, pleaded guilty to one charge of indecent assault as part of a plea deal. He had initially faced two charges.
His defence lawyer, Andrew Tehan, told the court his client accepted 'it would have been a terrifying experience for her' and expressed genuine remorse. Tehan detailed MacNicol's background as a military policeman and crime scene photographer, deployed to scenes including mass killings in East Timor, which left him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The court was informed of MacNicol's subsequent mental health struggles, including treatment at Armadale Hospital after being declared a suicide risk and a self-admission to Hollywood Hospital. A psychiatric report cited by the magistrate showed a 'causal connection' between his mental health and the offending.
Consequences and Community Safety Orders
Magistrate Dias ordered that MacNicol serve his suspended sentence in the community under strict conditions. She warned that any reoffending would see him immediately imprisoned. His obligations include attending rehabilitative programs and meeting reporting requirements.
The Teacher Registration Board of WA has cancelled MacNicol's teaching registration. Education Department director general Jay Peckitt confirmed the case led to this action. Following his arrest, MacNicol spent less than two weeks in jail before being granted bail.
Parents at the primary school were previously notified via a letter that a retired principal was temporarily replacing MacNicol due to 'confidential reasons' that left him unable to continue. MacNicol did not respond to media questions outside the court.
