A private school drama teacher, William Roberto Gulson, recently faced the court with unwavering support from his mother, a gemstone heiress, as he prepared to be sentenced on a charge of paedophilia. The 28-year-old, who previously taught at the prestigious Knox Grammar School in Sydney, which charges $45,000 annually, was convicted for attempting to procure a minor for sexual activities.

During the trial, evidence was presented in the form of Grindr messages where Gulson communicated with what he believed to be a 15-year-old boy. In these exchanges, he proposed meeting at the boy’s house to find a “quiet place” for their encounter. However, the individual on the other end of the conversation was not a teenager, but rather a young woman intent on exposing individuals with such predatory intentions.

This vigilant young woman’s actions led to Gulson’s arrest and subsequent court proceedings, where he now faces a potential maximum sentence of 12 years in prison. This starkly contrasts with Gulson’s upbringing and lifestyle, which included luxurious overseas trips. While on bail, he traveled to the south of France with his mother, Sally Sherman Gulson, a noted socialite.

Throughout these legal challenges, Gulson’s mother, a constant figure in his life, has remained by his side, often joining him on his European and Egyptian adventures. Known for referring to him affectionately as “Bubba” and “my dancing man,” she has frequently expressed her pride in his artistic talents on social media.

A prison cell is a far cry from how ballet dancer Gulson was raised – or indeed, how he has spent recent years. The Daily Mail can reveal he holidayed overseas to the south of France with his mother, socialite and gemstone heiress Sally Sherman Gulson, while he was on bail. 

His doting mother and constant companion on trips to Europe and Egypt is known to call her son ‘Bubba’ and ‘my dancing man’, and, according to various social media posts, is clearly proud of William’s artistic streak.

And so it was unsurprising that Gulson has staunchly held hands with his mother, his head held high as he stared down the cameras when arriving at court to face a local court judge’s verdict in regards to his child sex offence.

Convicted child sex offender William Gulson with his mother Sally Gulson together in the south of France in early 2025

Gulson’s social media pages are replete with images of him acting or posing up during his teenage years when he hoped to forge a career in musical theatre

Given his close bond with his mother Sally – who calls her son ‘Bubba – it was unsurprising that William Roberto Gulson arrived at court staunchly holding hands with her this past week

He was probably convinced he would get off the charge of ‘being an adult who did intentionally procure a child aged 15 years for unlawful sexual activity’.

But on a bright summer’s morning this week after striding confidently yet again into the Downing Centre court complex he later emerged a convicted man.

His career as a drama teacher at his old alma mater, Knox, already in tatters, he may have hoped to redeem his reputation and continue to forge a future in arts tutoring.

But the former teacher’s excuses for graphic internet searches and a sexualised chat with a teen were slammed as wholly unconvincing.

Gulson, who had run his own private business Gulson Tutoring catering ‘to many satisfied clients from the years 7-12’ while working in a number of roles at the elite Knox school, had messaged a 15-year-old girl in August 2024.

The girl, who was posing as a boy, and another teenager were running a fake profile on the LGBTQI dating app Grindr intending to ‘catch pedos’, Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court heard this week.

Ku-ring-gai detectives arrested Gulson on a Friday lunchtime in September 2024, and took him to Hornsby police station where he was charged.

‘Do you find it hot that you’re as old as some of my students?’ Gulson asked the teen in a Grindr message after he said ‘he’ was a 15-year-old Year 9 student. 

Gulson leaves court this week, head held high, despite being convicted as a child sex offender just minutes before

William Gulson posing on stage of a musical theatre production in his second last year of school, with his adoring mum posting ‘so proud of my dancin’ man’

Gulson and his mum arrive at court last year, Sally Gulson holding hands with her ‘Bubba’. A month later they were touring the south of France, seemingly carefree

William Gulson in January 2023 with mum Sally in Egypt (left) and with a female dancer during a a musical theatre performance back in 2013

‘I want to be with older men. They are so fun. I’ve dated older men, and I loved it,’ the teen texted.

Gulson replied that he hoped he didn’t teach him, and the boy responded ‘pretty unlikely’.

Local court Judge Hugh Donnelly told the court that Gulson and the boy discussed age, sexual experience, and ‘sexual activity that might be performed’.

Gulson suggested meeting up with the boy, saying ‘I can travel. I can come to your house’ and that ‘I can pick you up when you find a quiet place’ for sexual activity.

When told the boy’s age, Gulson said ‘wow you’re super young’ and exchanged intimate photos and audio recordings and made plans to meet up for sex. 

Detectives found internet searches on Gulson’s devices including one titled ‘young boy raped movie scene’, as well as ‘movies about priests molesting boys’. 

One of Gulson’s messages said ‘I feel conflicted’ which Mr Donnelly said signalled ‘some kind of hesitation, given that this occurs immediately after [the teenager] says he is 15’.

But the child sent photos of ‘an adolescent boy’, which Gulson saved to his phone and replied to, saying ‘a cute boy’, ‘wow, you’re young’ and ‘such a sweet boy’.

The conversations took place at Wahroonga, where he lives with his mother Sally in a $3million five-bedroom house. 

In court, Gulson testified that he never believed the Grindr user was a child, and suggested a search for ‘gay child porn’ might have been auto-filled because he had no memory of typing it. 

William and his mother Sally at the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Barquq in Cairo, Egypt in January 2023

Gulson walks out of Surry Hills Police Station after being released on bail in September, 2024 on a child sex offence for which he was found guilty by a magistrate this week

Mr Donnelly found Gulson’s denials ‘wholly unconvincing’, saying ‘his answers had the hallmark of recent invention’.

He concluded that Gulson had a sexual interest in children, and found the former educator guilty of one charge of procuring a child aged under 16 for unlawful sexual activity. 

Following Gulson’s arrest and his immediate sacking, Knox Grammar principal Scott James informed parents that the ‘alleged exchange occurred outside school hours and premises and did not involve any school IT equipment.

‘When this was brought to our attention, the teacher concerned was immediately removed from the school and his employment was terminated’.

Gulson, himself a Knox graduate in 2014, had choreographed and directed junior students in school musicals, taught drama and English and was a mentor for Year 7. 

He had worked for the Terpsichore Dance Company teaching jazz, tap and ballet and as a special needs teacher. 

Gulson had likewise completed an arts internship with the Michael Cassel Group on a production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

During his teenage years he had been a retail brand ambassador with his mother Sally Gulson’s events and handbag business Alive with Style.

The pair travelled the world sourcing ladies’ kaftans, jewellery and Italian bags for her market stalls in the Northern Beaches.

Gulson and mum Sally outside the gates of Knox Grammar 

Sally Gulson’s response to her son’s thankyou at the end of his time at the elite school was: ‘You deserve everything that comes your way! Am so proud of my ‘bubba’! xxx’

Mum and son selfie in the Czech Republic in 2023 (left) and Gulson is ballet mode during his teens (right)

During his school years, William Gulson was constantly acting and dancing in plays and musicals and taking his leading ladies to school formals.

He posted a year after leaving school, in August 2015, and again in July 2017, that after a lifelong struggle with his weight that he had lost 26kg and beaten his goal weight by 1kg.

The response from his old drama and musical friends was enthusiastic, with posts saying ‘Dayummmmmmm, you look so good Will!’, ‘Oh my god baby!!!!!! You’re a stunner’, ‘Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawt stuff!!!’ and ‘WOW! You look absolutely amazing!!!’

Gulson’s response was: ‘I am so excited to see where my 20s will take me!’. 

The year prior to his arrest, in 2023, the Knox Grammar School Council awarded Gulson their ‘Living Our Values’ award.

Gulson will return to court for a sentencing hearing on March 20.