A FORMER teacher has been charged with dozens of child sex offences allegedly committed against numerous young boys at an Armidale school more than 30 years ago.
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The 71-year-old Armidale man was last night charged at Armidale Police Station with 33 indecent assault offences involving 18 separate victims, who were students at Ben Venue Public School at the time of the alleged incidents.
Yesterday’s significant arrest comes just 14 months after a Fairfax Media investigation exposed claims of child sex abuse allegedly committed by another former teacher, who has passed away, at the school after ex-students came forward.
Strike Force Flair was set up by New England detectives and investigations over a period of more than 18 months, culminated in yesterday’s arrest and raid of the man’s Armidale home where several items of interest were seized.
The investigation was sparked after a referral from the royal commission into child sex abuse.
“These matters can take many years to come to the attention of police,” Acting Superintendent Roger Best told The Leader yesterday.
“These alleged victims are obviously extremely traumatised and it takes external events like the royal commission to make the decision to report the events to authorities.
“And we will be doing everything we can to support them through that process.”
Last night, police confirmed to The Leader the 71-year-old had been charged with 33 counts of indecent assault – the charge in place at the time of the alleged offending.
It came after detectives interviewed 18 alleged victims over the course of the investigation, culminating in the criminal charges.
The man was interviewed by investigators yesterday and was still in police custody late last night.
Acting Superintendent Best said police will allege the majority of the offences were committed against students on the grounds of the Ben Venue school.
“New England detectives have carried out extensive follow-up inquiries since the referral and have made numerous significant investigations,” he said,
“And no doubt doing all they can to support victims in the coming process.”
Initial concerns over alleged sex abuse at the school were raised in March last year and reported in The Leader, centering on allegations of sexual molestation by former principal Peter Garland, who was pictured on The Leader’s front page last year, and had died in 2010.
