Keith Ellerton: Allansford former principal jailed for sexual offences
An Allansford man was the pillar of society. School principal and cricket association general manager — he was the “model citizen”. But he has been uncovered as a shocking sex offender who targeted a young girl for years.
West
Don't miss out on the headlines from West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former school principal and cricket association general manager has been jailed for repeatedly sexually assaulting a young girl.
Keith James Ellerton was sentenced to a minimum of two years’ jail in the County Court on Wednesday, October 14, having pleaded guilty to charges of committing an indecent act with a child under 16 and indecent assault.
The Allansford 74-year-old was aged between 46 and 53 when he assaulted one girl on nine separate occasions, including touching her breasts for periods of up to 20 minutes.
The court heard after the sixth incident the girl told Ellerton she was going to tell the police, to which he responded, “No, you won’t”.
Ellerton was principal of Terang Primary School at the time and had been the Warrnambool Cricket Association general manager for years.
Judge Frances Hogan said Ellerton’s profession should have made him acutely aware of how his actions would affect his victim.
“You should have known how harmful exposure to inappropriate sexual conduct can be before a child has the maturity to understand it,” she said.
Judge Hogan said Ellerton’s moral culpability for his “callous cruelty” and “predatory” actions towards the girl was high.
“While ostensibly a model citizen in the community, making generous contributions to sporting organisations, you behaved in a depraved way,” she said.
“It is often the good character of an perpetrator of these types of offences which enables the offending to continue.”
Judge Hogan said she didn’t accept a psychologist’s assertion that Ellerton’s offending was opportunistic because he had ensured no one else would be around and offended repeatedly.
The court heard the crimes had a devastating impact on the victim, who was still reliving the trauma.
Ellerton, who left the school system in the 1990s to work on his dairy farm, went on to run a large dairy food safety business with his wife until earlier this year.
It was heard the sex charges led to the end of his marriage, his business, the sale of his farm and him leaving his role as president of Allansford Cricket Club.
Ellerton was once the principal at Merrivale Primary School, Warrnambool South Primary School and Terang Primary School.
He also taught at Wannon Primary School, Niarranda South Primary School, Allendale Primary School, Haddon Primary School, Naringal Primary School and Jamieson St Primary School after attending Geelong Teachers’ College.
The court heard Ellerton was “remorseful beyond belief” and suffering depression.
Judge Hogan said she took into account his remorse, early plea, older age and the harsher conditions in custody caused by COVID-19 in sentencing him to a maximum of four years’ jail.
MORE: ACCUSED RAPIST BACK ON THE STREETS DESPITE POLICE ‘MURDER’ FEARS
MOOMBA RIDE OPERATOR KEEPS CARNIE PAEDO