Andrew Jewitt: Rochedale SS P & C vice-president Rob Timms gives paedophile a reference
The vice-president of a P & C committee at an Independent Public School on Brisbane’s southside gave a convicted paedophile a glowing character reference, despite him grooming girls as young as 11.
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The vice-president of the P & C association at a respected Independent Public School on Brisbane’s southside gave a glowing character reference to convicted paedophile Andrew Jewitt, it can be revealed.
Mr Jewitt, a 43-year-old married man from Woodridge, was sentenced in Beenleigh District Court on Wednesday to serve nine months of a three-and-a-half year head sentence for grooming five young girls aged between 11 – 15 on Instagram and possessing child exploitation material.
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Now, the Courier Mail can reveal Rob Timms, the current vice-president of Rochedale State School’s P & C Committee, provided a character reference for Mr Jewitt which was tendered in court.
There is no suggestion Mr Timms committed any crime.
While details of the reference were not read onto the public record, the seriousness of Mr Jewitt’s charges combined with the high position of Mr Timms set alarm bells ringing for Crown prosecutor Zachary Kaplan.
Mr Kaplan questioned the appropriateness of Mr Timms providing the reference in light of the fact Mr Jewitt’s victims were primary-school aged.
Judge Craig Chowdhury remained unconvinced, however, comparing it to the outcry when former prime minister Tony Abbott provided a reference to Cardinal George Pell, whose convictions for historical sexual abuse of two teenagers was eventually overturned by the High Court.
Mr Kaplan replied that he would agree with Judge Chowdhury, but for the fact Mr Timms was “unwilling” to speak with him when he attempted to make contact with him to provide a more complete picture of the then-allegations (since proven) against Mr Jewitt.
Again, Judge Chowdhury refused to draw conclusions about Mr Timms’ conduct, noting that most ordinary members of the community would be alarmed to receive a phone call from a Crown prosecutor.
Education Queensland handballed questions about the appropriateness of Mr Timms’ conduct to peak-body P & Cs Qld.
President Scott Wiseman said Mr Timms provided the reference in a personal capacity and was not representing the P & C “in any way” and as such did not breach the code of conduct which applies to P & C executive members.
He did, however, note that P & C leaders needed to be role models for their community due to their positions of responsibility.
“P & C leadership teams perform a valuable leadership role in the school parent community and as such need to provide an exemplary standard of behaviour and decision-making,” Mr Wiseman said.
Mr Timms was contacted for comment.