Fresh sex abuse charges for jailed Christian Brother John Laidlaw

A former teacher jailed for sexually abusing boys at prestigious Catholic schools has been hit with fresh charges just days before being eligible for parole.

The new charges relate to alleged offending that took place while he was teaching at St Kevin’s College in Toorak, Parade College in Bundoora and St Joseph’s in Warrnambool. Picture: Erik Anderson

A ex-teacher jailed for sexually abusing boys at some of Victoria’s most prestigious Catholic schools has been hit with a further 13 charges on the eve of being eligible for parole.

Christian Brother John Laidlaw, 83, appeared frail and leaned in towards the camera to try and hear as he appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court via videolink on Friday.

The court heard detectives of the Sano taskforce – established to investigate historic allegations of child sex abuse – charged Laidlaw on June 21.

Charge sheets allege he indecently assaulted male students over more than two decades between 1966 and 1990.

The alleged offending took place while he was teaching at St Kevin’s College in Toorak, Parade College in Bundoora and St Joseph’s in Warrnambool.

Christian Brother John Laidlaw is facing fresh historic child sex abuse charges. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

He is facing 12 charges of indecent assault and a single count of sexual penetration of a child.

His lawyer Luwum Masho confirmed her client had been charged on summons, but was in jail serving a sentence for other offending.

Prosecutor Jonathon McCarthy said they were “carefully” considering an application to keep Laidlaw behind bars with his earliest parole date looming on July 18.

“It’s historic offending,” Mr McCarthy said.

“I don’t want the absence of an application to be taken as a concession, we don’t consider that there’s risk.”

Magistrate Johanna Metcalfe warned such an application “would need to be done fairly promptly then” given the parole date was weeks away.

The matter will return to court at a later date.