A former teacher at Atavtabanga School on Pentecost Island has been sentenced to five years, four months and two weeks prison for sexual offending against two 15-year-old students.

The Supreme Court sentenced 41-year-old Angelan Tokalolo on 17 September 2026 after he pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent and two charges of acts of indecency without consent.

The court heard that the offending occurred in two separate incidents, one in 2019 and another in 2022, while Tokalolo was a teacher at the school attended by both victims.

Justice Maree MacKenzie identified the breach of trust as a significant aggravating factor, noting that Tokalolo was in a position of responsibility over the two students.

The court also found that the offending was planned, involved two victims, and caused psychological harm.

Justice MacKenzie said: “You made use of your position of power and responsibility as a teacher to offend against the victims, who were students at the same school.”

The judge said the offending was serious and was not a one-off incident, as the two assaults occurred three years apart.

The court imposed a global starting point of seven years imprisonment before taking into account Tokalolo’s guilty plea and other personal factors.

Although Tokalolo pleaded guilty shortly before the matter was due to go to trial, the judge said the plea provided some recognition of responsibility and spared the victims from having to give evidence.

The sentence was reduced by 15 percent for the guilty plea, with a further six-month reduction for his status as a first offender and otherwise good character, as well as a customary reconciliation payment made to the parents of one victim.

Justice MacKenzie rejected an application to suspend the sentence.

The judge said: “A stern response is needed. Further, there is a need for consistency and for community protection.”

The court found that the circumstances were not exceptional enough to justify suspension, particularly given the seriousness of the offending, the abuse of the teacher-student relationship and the psychological harm suffered by the victims.

The court has also made a permanent order suppressing the names and identifying details of the victims.