Former Camberwell Grammar teacher Trevor Spurritt jailed over sexual assault
A top private school has reacted to the “abhorrent” sex offences committed by a former teacher against its students on school grounds and camps as the retired staffer could die in jail.
Police & Courts
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A former private school teacher imprisoned over historic sex offences against boys may not survive jail, a judge had declared.
Trevor Alan Spurritt, 76, was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison over nine indecent assault charges against students.
The former Camberwell Grammar teacher will have to serve a minimum three years before he’s eligible for parole.
In a statement, principal Paul Hicks apologised to the student victims on behalf of the school for the “hurt and pain they have experienced” over the “abhorrent” acts.
“The men who brought these complaints to the police have shown great courage, and while we understand that the sentence imposed by the Court will not undo the events of the past, I hope that this outcome will bring them at least some peace” he wrote.
Dr Hicks said while Camberwell Grammar could not undo the events of the past, the school needed to “acknowledge them, learn from them”.
Spurritt was found guilty last year of sexually assaulting four boys in the classroom, on school camps and on school grounds from 1969 to 1971.
The students were aged 12 to 14.
In sentencing at the County Court today, Judge Patricia Riddell said the offending warranted an immediate term of imprisonment, which could “constitute a proportion of the remainder of your life”.
“I must allow for the reasonable possibility that you may not survive a term of imprisonment,” Her Honour told the court.
As a prison term was read out for the first of nine charges, a woman burst into tears.
The most lengthy sentences of 2 years and 6 months were over two charges of masturbating a boy in a bunk bed.
Spurritt had gone to tell students it was time for lights out when he assaulted the same boy, both at the Frankston CEBS school camp and another camp at Bambara.
He received 6 months prison for charges of touching a boy’s bottom after finding him unwell and alone in the mess hall of the CEBS school camp.
Orders were made for cumulation on the base sentence, totalling to 5 years and 8 months.
Judge Riddell said she set a lower non-parole period of 3 years than she otherwise would have, due to Spurritt’s lack of offending since, his age, ill health, contribution to the community and delay in criminal proceedings.
When the terms were completed, the woman in the public gallery was heard crying the word “cruelty”.
Spurritt’s family members were in the packed courtroom, along with his victims and their loved ones.
Judge Riddell said Spurritt had not expressed any remorse or empathy for the victims, and had not admitted wrongdoing or demonstrated insight into the offending.
The sentence comes seven years after the initial complaint was made to police, with Judge Riddell stating the “extraordinary delay” had compounded the distress for both victims and offender.
“No reason has been given, beyond workload, as to why such delay was occasioned,” she said.
The court heard Spurritt suffers a series of medical problems and has “experienced some suicidality” since the jury verdict was handed down.
Judge Riddell last year deferred sentencing so Spurritt could have knee replacement surgery due to osteoarthritis.
The court heard that surgery in December had exacerbated pain and put pressure on his foot and ankle, which was now also recommended for surgery.
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However, Judge Riddell said she would not delay sentencing any further.
She said Spurritt’s prospects of rehabilitation were “excellent” and there was “no real part to play for specific deterrence here”.
Spurritt will be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
Police will also take a sample of his DNA.
Spurritt had faced further allegations from the 1990s, but these were dismissed last year.
To read judge Riddell’s full sentencing remarks, click here.