FORMER Nsw Brother Awaits Jail Sentence

9 News
November 7, 2014

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/11/07/14/20/former-nsw-brother-awaits-jail-sentence

A former Christian Brother will spend his first night behind bars for indecently assaulting four boys at NSW schools more than 30 years ago.

Desmond Eric Richards had his bail revoked at the Downing Centre District Court on Friday ahead of his sentencing on November 27.

The 75-year-old has pleaded guilty to abusing four boys between 1972 and 1982 in Albury, Wagga Wagga and Strathfield in Sydney's inner west.

Although the court was told that Richards claimed to have no memory of the incidents, the former brother had said he was "very concerned" about the impact his behaviour has had.

In arguing against a jail sentence, his lawyer Greg Walsh said his client had admitted his wrongdoing as far back as 1997.

Mr Walsh said Richards confessed to the assault of at least one victim in a report produced by Geraldine Taylor.

Ms Taylor was the former chief clinician of Encompass Australasia, which was set up to treat clergy for psycho-sexual disorders.

But this admission was not reported to police.

Mr Walsh said Richards had undertaken "considerable steps" towards rehabilitation since then, including seeing a counsellor.

"He's not in the best of health, he's 75 years of age," he said.

"He's a simple man who leads just a very simple life in a retirement village with other members of the religious community.

"This offender has put his hand up and pleaded guilty. He said he was sorry. He's conceded he was heavy-handed."

However, Judge Peter Zahra said he was in favour of handing down a custodial sentence given the clear evidence that Richards was quite violent, "if not cruel", to the victims for some time after assaulting them.

Richards appeared shaken as he was taken into custody for the first time.