Former Dandenong High School teacher Timothy Richardson, 82, raped a student up to 100 times
Former Dandenong High School teacher Timothy Richardson, 82, has heard one of his victims tell the County Court how the rape had ruined his life, giving him “a life sentence of shame and depression”.
South East
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A former high school teacher who indecently assaulted several students was a predator who raped one of his victims 80 to 100 times, a court has heard.
Timothy Richardson, 82, faced a plea hearing in the County Court today after he was last month found guilty of buggery and multiple counts of indecent assault.
The crimes were committed while Richardson was a respected teacher at Dandenong High School during the sixties and seventies.
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He would convince the parents of students, including two brothers, it was safe to let their children stay with him alone at his farm.
He would make the frightened children sleep with him in a single bed where he would rape and indecently assault them, the court was told.
Richardson did not look up while one of his victims stood barely two metres away in court to recount how his former teacher had ruined his life.
The victim said Richardson had given him “a life sentence of shame and depression”.
“This predator did not take my age into account when he raped me 80 to 100 times over a two-year period,” he said.
“He just wanted to satisfy his own sexual urges.”
The victim said he was “met with disdain” and “severely chastised” for trying to tell other teachers what Richardson had done to him.
“I was warned not to make accusations again,” the victim said.
“I was so consumed by the emotions of shame, embarrassment and guilt.”
Richardson was able to convince his victim’s mother over tea that it was okay for the young boy and his brother to stay at his farm on different occasions.
The brother’s statement was also read out in court.
It stated Richardson had robbed him of “any sense of true happiness”.
“(Richardson stole my) early teenage years but also the 55 years out of my 67 years and I’m sure the sentence will continue on,” the statement read.
He also blamed himself for not doing anything to protect his brother and said explaining the details of what happened to him to investigators was “totally abhorrent” and “excruciating”.
Another victim said what Richardson did to him was “terrifying”.
“I was there against my will, it was humiliating and degrading,” the victim said.
“The words ‘do you like this’ kept repeating in my mind and all I could offer was just a feeble ‘yes’.”
The court heard how Richardson’s “good character” and no prior criminal history should be taken into account when sentencing.
However Judge Paul Higham said Richardson’s good character had helped him gain a job as a teacher.
“(Richardson’s) victims were chosen,” Judge Higham said.
“Even after decades your sins will be found out and come to light in court.
“The message has to be sent out, that even decades later, offending against children has to be punished.”
Richardson, who pleaded not guilty to the charges in October, was found guilty in December and will be sentenced next week.
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