Shocking claims made against former primary school principal

A former Brisbane primary school principal will fight a $2.5 million lawsuit brought by a student who claims he was sexually assaulted on campus. WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS

A former Birkdale State School principal has been accused of sexually assaulting a student in the 1980s.

A former Brisbane primary school principal will fight a $2.5m lawsuit brought by a student who claims he was sexually assaulted on campus.

The man claims former Birkdale State School principal Viacheslav Von-Treifeldt sexually assaulted, sexually abused and indecently treated him when he was a student between 1980 to 1985.

The alleged victim, now aged in his 40s, is suing Mr Von-Treifeldt and the state government for compensation with claims of more than $2.5m filed in the Queensland Supreme Court.

Shine Lawyers is acting on behalf of the alleged victim with the matter set to go to trial in July.

Creevey Horrell Lawyers partner Tom Rynders said the allegations against Mr Von-Treifeldt were “strenuously denied” and that he “looked forward” to the trial.

The alleged victim said he would be summoned to see Mr Von-Treifeldt for disciplinary reasons and was occasionally given lollies as treats afterwards, according to the statement of claim.

According to the claim, some of the alleged abuse included: penetrating the victim’s anus with his penis and fingers, performing fellatio upon the alleged victim, masturbating himself in the victim’s presence and fondling the victim’s penis and genitalia.

It’s also alleged that Mr Von-Treifeldt threatened the victim that he would be removed from school and taken from his parents if he told anyone what had happened.

“The first defendant also told the plaintiff that no one would believe him against the word of a principal if he told anyone,” the claim read.

The alleged victim suffered from complex post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and turned to alcohol aged 10, according to the statement of claim.

“The plaintiff suffered frequent post-traumatic symptoms including disturbing nightmares,” it read.

“He has and continues to suffer intermittent suicidal ideation.”

Shine Lawyers solicitor Callum Copland said it would be alleged before the court the abuse experienced by the alleged victim had a “profoundly detrimental impact on his life”.

Mr Copland said all children deserved to be safe at school.

“He has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is today, but he’s likely to spend the rest of his life trying to manage,” Mr Copland said.

“They deserve to be protected and should be able to trust the people who play such a crucial role in their early development.”

According to the statement of claims, Shine Lawyers alleged the state government had “permitted and allowed” Mr Von-Treifeldt to remove the boy from class at will without an explanation.

It’s also alleged that there were no records kept of the times the pair spent together.

Further, Mr Copland slammed the state government for allegedly dragging out the litigation process, which initially started in 2019, making it more difficult for people who make such claims.

“The state’s own guidelines highlight the need to make the legal process as trauma-informed as possible, and minimise the potential for compounding a survivor’s pain,” he said.

“My concern is that government agencies and other institutions are making it more difficult.”

A department of education spokesman said it was unable to comment on the matter as it was before the courts.