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Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Historic Indecent Assaults Against Young Girls

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A 80-year-old man, Rex Walter Ryan, who taught at nine different primary schools in Ballarat, Victoria, has pleaded guilty to nine counts of historic indecent assault against young girls. The heinous crimes took place between 1978 and 1980 at Redan Primary School and Wendouree West Primary School. Ryan's disturbing actions involved luring young girls into the photography darkroom and sexually assaulting them, with some incidents involving touching the girls' vaginas or putting his hand inside their pants.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rex Walter Ryan, 80, pleaded guilty to nine counts of historic indecent assault against young girls between 1978 and 1980.
  • The assaults occurred at Redan Primary School (now Phoenix P-12) and Wendouree West Primary School (now Yuille Park P-8 Community College).
  • Ryan told police he found eight-year-old girls "sweet, innocent" and appealing, and his rationalization for his actions was that he didn't force them and didn't penetrate them.
  • Ryan taught at nine different Ballarat schools throughout his career and was convicted of indecent assault in 1983 and 1993.
  • Six of the victims were girls between the ages of 8 and 10 who were assaulted by Ryan while he was their teacher.
  • The court heard victim impact statements from five of the victims, including one who conveyed her profound impact and shame caused by the assault, stating "I was at school, I should have been safe."
  • Judge Dalziel found it plausible that the victims did not come forward as children due to child sexual abuse.
  • Ryan is due to be sentenced as a serious sexual offender on July 3.

Statistics:

  • Between 1978 and 1980, Rex Walter Ryan assaulted nine girls, all of whom were under the age of 12.
  • Ryan's assaults involved inappropriate touching of the vagina, putting his hand inside girls' pants, and touching girls' bodies without consent.
  • Six of the victims were between the ages of 8 and 10.
  • Ryan was convicted of five counts of indecent assault in 1983 and eight-year-old girl in 1993.

Sources:

  • "Ex-teacher to face court over historic sex charges" by Michael Fowler (May 25, 2024)
  • "*_:EXCLUSIVE_: Former Ballarat school principal convicted of child sex abuse" by July Miller (March 8, 1993)

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