Charges stayed against former gym teacher accused of sexually assaulting Winnipeg student

Charges have been stayed against a former Winnipeg gym teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

Amanda Rachelle Sherrett was charged with offences including sexual assault earlier this year, after police said in April she had "forged an inappropriate and sexual relationship" with a girl who was under 18 years old and a student at Collge Bliveau when the alleged offences started.

Police said at the time that Sherrett, 41, groomed the student and eventually gained her trust. Sherrett was also charged with sexual exploitation and luring a person under 18 years of age by means of telecommunication.

But those charges were all stayed on June 25, court records show just a few months after they were laid on March 29.

A provincial government spokesperson said the Crown made that decision after determining there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction in the case.

"The Crown has a positive obligation to assess its case at every stage of the proceeding," the spokesperson said in an email.

"Following the accused's arrest, the Crown received additional information. As a result, the Crown determined that there was no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction."

The spokesperson would not say what that additional information included.

The Louis Riel School Division previously said it immediately removed Sherrett from the workplace and began an investigation after learning of the allegations against her from Child and Family Services.

On Tuesday, the division said it was aware of the stay of proceedings in the case but could not comment on the "status of this internal personnel matter."

"The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and all members of our school community continues to be our highest priority," a division spokesperson said in an email.

Police alleged at the time of Sherrett's arrest that she engaged in physical and sexual contact with the girl on school trips and on occasion in Winnipeg, and the abuse continued after the girl no longer attended the school. The offences were alleged to have happened over a number of years.

Police also said their child abuse unit found out about the relationship in February, but would not confirm how they were alerted or by whom.

The province has a year from the date charges were stayed to reinstate them.