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	Church Pedophile Best Jailed in Melbourne Sydney Morning Herald August 8, 2011 http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/church-pedophile-best-jailed-in-melbourne-20110808-1ii9e.html Victims of one of Australia's worst pedophiles hurled abuse at the Christian Brother who devastated their lives after a judge sentenced him to almost 15 years' jail on Monday. Robert Charles Best, 70, was sentenced for 27 offences including the rape of a nine-year-old boy. As Victorian County Court Judge Roy Punshon ordered Best be taken to the cells, the courtroom erupted as victims and their families vented their rage. Advertisement: Story continues below Cries of "maggot" from the mother of one victim and "f***ing arsehole" and "you dirty f***ing dog" from two of his victims echoed around the room as Best was led away. Best's only sign of emotion came when the mother of a victim turned and abused him as he stood in the dock. He merely smirked and shrugged his shoulders. The outbursts came after Judge Punshon imposed sentences totalling almost 50 years, some to be served cumulatively but most concurrently. He will serve a maximum 14 years and nine months. The longest sentence is six years for raping a nine-year-old grade three student at St Alipius primary school in Ballarat in 1969. The court heard the boy, who had a physical impairment, passed out after being raped by Best and was then beaten by another Christian Brother until he denied anything had happened. Judge Punshon told Best his crimes committed over almost 20 years against 11 boys had caused enormous misery and harm. "The victim impact statements ... are a powerful reminder of the devastating effect of your crimes," the judge said. "Yours was a grave breach of trust from someone who was a teacher and a spiritual guide." Best, along with some of his Christian Brother colleagues, had preyed on vulnerable boys who were powerless to complain, the judge said. Outside court, one victim called for a full inquiry into sex abuse in the Catholic church. "We really need to look into the reporting mechanisms in the Catholic church related to sex offending," the victim said. Best faced a series of trials in which he initially answered 43 charges involving 17 boys he taught at St Alipius, St Leo's at Box Hill in Melbourne and St Joseph's at Geelong. After juries found Best guilty of 21 charges in the first eight of those trials, he changed his plea during the ninth trial, admitting the six charges remaining against him. Best first faced charges in 1996 when he received a suspended sentence after being found guilty. The court had heard Best had a fetish for caressing the buttocks of pre-pubescent boys but had maintained he was heterosexual. It also heard he was a violent and callous bully who would beat his victims if his advances were rejected. Judge Punshon also noted that Best had not resigned from the Christian Brothers, nor had he been asked to. Following Monday's sentence, the Christian Brothers movement apologised unreservedly to Best's victims. "The Christian Brothers are deeply saddened by these events, especially by the great distress and suffering caused to these victims and their families," Brother Brian Brandon said in a statement. Brother Brandon refused to discuss the matter further, including whether there were any plans to dismiss Best. Civil actions are planned against both Best and the Christian Brothers on behalf of his victims. Best will be eligible for parole after serving 11 years and three months. His sentence is the second longest given to a church pedophile, behind Father Gerald Ridsdale, who was in Ballarat at the same time as Best and was jailed in 1994 to 18 years.
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