By Sean Fewster
Adelaide Now
February 24, 2009
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25099856-5006301,00.html
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| Pedophile Andrew Dawson-Ryan walks with his barrister, Lindy Powell, QC, during an earlier hearing in the District Court. |
A REMORSELESS Anglican Church pedophile who systematically abused boys "hundreds of times" must be shown no mercy, say prosecutors.
Prosecutors today told the District Court there was no reason to extend leniency to former Church of England Boys Society youth leader Andrew William Dawson-Ryan.
The 60-year-old's counsel were hard-pressed to disagree – an hour-long hearing, set down for defence to make submissions, lasted just 20 minutes.
Dawson-Ryan, of Cumberland Park, was last year convicted by a jury of 12 counts of indecent assault, five counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, gross indecency and procuring an act of gross indecency.
Between 1972 and 1988, he abused a number of boys entrusted into his care as a leader with the Church of England Boys Society.
He plied them with cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and pornography, and made friends with their families.
Today Mark Norman, prosecuting, said the "sheer scope and scale" of the offending was staggering.
"These are just examples of hundreds of offences he committed, for which he cannot possibly be sentenced," he said.
"The timing of the abuse was systematic, with a profound and prolonged impact upon a generation of families.
"The best that can be said, in mitigation, is that there was no violence... leniency is proscribed."
Lindy Powell, QC, for Dawson-Ryan, asked the court consider her client's age and lack of offending since 1998 when imposing sentence.
Judge Gordon Barrett remanded Dawson-Ryan in custody for sentencing next month.
Anyone abused by Dawson-Ryan is asked to contact the Anglican Church on 8366 6589.
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