N.S. teacher accused of serious sex offences charged with breaching conditions

A Nova Scotia school teacher charged earlier this summer with serious sex offences has been released from jail after being arrested on the weekend.

Nicole MacLeod, 36, appeared in Truro provincial court on Wednesday morning to face a number of sex-related charges and one new charge of breaching her previous release conditions.

The Murray Siding, N.S., woman was charged in June with several offences, including sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and making sexually explicit material available to a young person.

MacLeod is accused of sexually assaulting a student multiple times in May and June. She was released on conditions, including an order to stay away from the alleged victim. The new charge following her arrest on Saturday alleges she contacted the youth.

MacLeod is a teacher at Tatamagouche Regional Academy,  a combined elementary, junior and senior high school, but she has been suspended since the allegations first surfaced.

During Wednesday's court appearance, lawyers agreed on new terms for her release. MacLeod must now live with a surety in Debert, N.S., where she will be under house arrest, and can only leave the home in the company of her surety. She is not to have any contact with anyone under the age of 16, particularly the alleged victim. The only exceptions are her own children.

MacLeod will return to court in October.