Paul Frost: Sydney swim coach found guilty of 43 charges of child sex abuse
A Sydney primary school teacher and the son of Ian Thorpe’s former swim coach has been found guilty of 43 charges of child sex abuse, relating to 11 victims, following a lengthy trial.
St George Shire Standard
Don't miss out on the headlines from St George Shire Standard. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The son of Ian Thorpe’s former swim coach has been found guilty of abusing 11 children at the swim school where he worked.
Paul Douglas Frost, 47, who lives in Hurstville, pleaded not guilty to 43 separate counts of child sexual abuse.
On Wednesday afternoon the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts following a months-long trial in Sydney District Court.
Some of the victims were present in the courtroom to hear the verdicts and were visibly relieved while they wiped away tears, dabbed their eyes with tissues and rubbed each other’s backs in support.
Other victims listened online.
The tears and relief continued for victims when Corrective Service officers took Frost away.
Frost, who is a former primary school teacher and MasterChef contestant, did not show any emotion as the verdicts were said by the foreperson.
His bail was formally revoked and he was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody after he removed his tie and belt.
Judge Sarah Huggett thanked the jury, of nine men and three women, for their months-long attention during the trial and the “diligent” way they acted throughout the trial.
“Thank you on behalf of the community for being willing to serve as jurors. You are discharged and you can go with the thanks of the court,” she said.
Frost had no family members inside the courtroom when the verdict was delivered.
Frost, whose father coached Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe, sexually abused 11 students at a swim school at the Doug Frost Swim Academy in Padstow in southwest Sydney in the 1990s and 2000s.
More former students came forward over subsequent months and the number later grew to 11 victims.
The 47-year-old was employed at Malabar Public School as a teacher up until the day before his arrest.
Frost was convicted of 18 counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child under 16, 13 counts of sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 16 under his authority, and six counts of inciting aggravated indecency with a child under 16 under his authority.
They also included two counts of grooming a child under 14 for an unlawful sexual act, one count of indecent assault of a child under 16 and two counts of sexual intercourse with a child between 16 and 17 who was under his care.
There was previously a non-publication order on the trial preventing the publishing of most details, which was lifted after the verdict was handed down.
A different jury was discharged without delivering verdicts last year following the first trial amid accusations of bullying, abuse and one juror’s refusal to properly deliberate.
Judge Huggett adjourned the case to August 18 for sentencing submissions.
Nailed it! Aussie women creating history at America’s Cup
Australian sailors in the first women’s America’s Cup are tapping into some famous inspiration for their history-making appearance in the famous regatta.
‘It’s a special thing’: Australia’s rare rugby result in New Zealand
Rugby’s U18s rising stars have done something few other Aussie teams have managed in recent times - completing a shock and awe mission across the ditch for two wins. Stars, result wrap