Child Sexual Abuse Victims Angry over Perpetrator's Jail Term

By Adam Cooper
Sydney Morning Herald
December 19, 2013

http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/child-sexual-abuse-victims-angry-over-perpetrators-jail-term-20131219-2zno1.html

Victims of a man who sexually assaulted 11 boys more than three decades ago when he was a community leader are angry at what they consider a light jail term.

Barry Francis Watson, 73, will serve a minimum of 2 1/2 years in prison for abusing boys in his care as young as seven when he was a leader in the Anglican Church's youth group, CEBS, between 1969 and 1979.

Watson was found guilty in October of 12 charges of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16. He then pleaded guilty to another six charges.

On Thursday County Court Judge Rachelle Lewitan imposed a maximum jail term of four years but the sentence has upset some of Watson's victims.

One called out to Watson as he was led from the dock, and outside court, he and others spoke of their disappointment to prosecutors.

Watson was trusted by the community to let boys stay at his home and at camps, or to ride with him in his delivery van when he worked for a bread company.

The court heard he took advantage of his victims by assaulting them while they were bathing, seated next to him in his van and at CEBS camps and activities.

At a camp he had a group of boys undress and stand in a circle. He then went around the group inappropriately touching each boy, the court was told.

Judge Lewitan said Watson's victims had all spoken of the impact his offending had on them.

She said many were distrusting of others and had relationship problems. One man said in a victim impact statement that he had had trouble bathing his children and changing their nappies.

One man spoke of problems with alcohol, drugs and anger, and another said he had immense psychological problems, including attempted suicide and a fear of bread aisles in supermarkets because they reminded him of Watson.

Judge Lewitan said Watson had abused the trust of people who respected him and considered him a mentor to young boys he was supposed to be caring for.

"The facts in these cases are extremely serious and disturbing and involve a gross breach of trust of 11 children – who were at the time between seven and 13 years of age – and their parents," she said.

She said Watson had never shown remorse for his offending and some of his victims had been subjected to "vigorous cross-examination" during his trial.

Watson was found not guilty of one charge and three others were discharged.

The court heard that Watson had been sexually abused at an Anglican boarding school in Dubbo.

In 1987 he pleaded guilty to similar charges in Melbourne Magistrates Court but the jail term was wholly suspended.

Watson, a father and grandfather, showed no emotion when his sentence was handed down. He has already served 53 days in custody.