Knox head denies groping girl

news.com.au
March 4, 2015

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/knox-head-denies-groping-girl/story-e6frfku9-1227247558689

The ex-headmaster of Sydney's Knox Grammar denies groping a teenage girl at a 1989 school musical.

THE former headmaster of Knox Grammar denies he groped a teenage girl at a school musical production in 1989.

LUCY Perry, the CEO of a global women's health charity has told a child sex abuse inquiry Ian Paterson cupped her bottom and put his hand near her genitals during rehearsals for a joint school production of Guys and Dolls.

Dr Paterson said on Wednesday it was "absolutely not" true that he had inappropriately touched the then 15-year-old girl. He was asked about Ms Perry's evidence that boys roared with approval when he groped her. "Absolutely not. They were roaring approval for her performance." Ms Perry has told the commission she felt humiliated when students cheered and said Dr Paterson had a "creepy look of satisfaction" on his face. She said on Monday she went to police in 2009 because she believed it would help their investigations by "demonstrating the culture of disrespect engendered by the school and to highlight the environment and attitude fostered by the headmaster". Dr Paterson agreed with David Lloyd counsel advising the royal commission, that in 1989 he did not believe that a teacher groping a student was criminal conduct.