Predator ex-Dandenong High teacher Timothy Richardson sentenced

A paedophile’s victims and their families have reacted outside court after the former Dandenong High teacher was sentenced for raping and indecently assaulting several boys.

Former Dandenong High teacher Timothy Richardson was convicted of raping and indecently assaulting several students.

A paedophile teacher has been handed a potential “death sentence” for raping and indecently assaulting several boys at a Harkaway farm.

Timothy Richardson, 82, sat motionless as he was sentenced in the County Court today to a minimum of four years and nine months in prison.

In contrast several of his victims and their families embraced each other outside court with one saying they were happy with the thought “Richardson will probably die in prison”.

PREVIOUSLY: PREDATOR TEACHER RAPED BOY ‘80 TO 100 TIMES

RICHARDSON COULD HAVE DOZEN MORE VICTIMS

JUDGE COMPARES FARM TO MICHAEL JACKSON’S NEVERLAND

Richardson was a teacher at Dandenong High while he molested the “underage boys” between 1963 and 1973.

Judge Paul Higham said Richardson would use his position as respected teacher to convince the students and their parents it was safe for them to stay at the farm.

“You (Richardson) would use persuasion or gentle coercion to get the boys to sleep in your bed,” Judge Higham said.

Richardson would begin talking to the boys about sex education and genitalia as a precursor to raping and sexually assaulting them.

Ex-Dandenong High teacher Timothy Richardson.

A victim obtained permission from his mum to stay at the farm for a week in the knowledge he would be with other boys, but when he arrived found he was staying alone with Richardson.

He was persuaded by Richardson to stay in his bed because “it will be more comfortable”.

The victim said he complied because Richardson “was a teacher and I’m shy”.

Another victim said Richardson wanted to “demonstrate another way to have sex which won’t get a girl pregnant”.

Richardson raped the boy before saying “now you have some of me in you”.

Another victim said “(Richardson) was an adult and a teacher so he must be right”.

Richardson’s lawyer said any significant jail sentence would be a “death sentence” during a plea hearing held in February.

Judge Higham said Richardson’s offences were examples of “serious and grave offending”.

“(The offences) were a gross abuse of trust to which you have demonstrated no evidence of remorse,” he said.

“You held a position of trust and authority at the school and you exercised that authority over boys and to gain the trust of parents.”

Judge Higham also labelled Richardson’s offences as “sustained and predatory” against boys who were at a “vulnerable stage of emotional development”.

“Children and parents placed trust in you … you betrayed them,” Judge Higham said.

“(It was) deviant sexual gratification.

“Crimes against children are crimes against the community’s future.”

Judge Higham took into account Richardson’s poor health, age and his “apparent blameless life” since the offences when sentencing but said a “clear message had to be sent”.

“You will be punished … (I) cannot give back to your victims,” he said.

Richardson, who was found guilty in December of several counts of indecent assault and buggary, was sentenced to a maximum eight years in jail, with a non-parole period of four years and nine months.

He will also be on the sex offender register for life.

An application to forfeit Richardson’s farm was dismissed.