Former Ashley Youth Detention Centre worker charge for alleged historical sexual abuse of children

A former worker at Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre has been charged over historical sexual abuse allegations of children.

A former youth detention worker has been charged with 11 counts of rape dating back to the 1970s.

Tasmania Police allege an instance of abuse occurred at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania between 1990 and 2021 while the man was an employee, and other instances occurred between 1974 and 1982.

A 64-year old Tasmanian man has been charged with serious sexual offences and child sexual abuse following an investigation by Taskforce Artemis detectives.

Tasmania Police allege an instance of abuse occurred at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Tasmania between 1990 and 2021 while the man was an employee, and other instances occurred between 1974 and 1982.

He will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on June 11 to face 11 counts of rape, 3 counts of indecent assault and 2 counts of indecency.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams said the charges related to three victim-survivors.

A statement from police on Friday said the charges stemmed from matters that were investigated as part of the Commission of Inquiry into the state government’s responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings.

“As the matter is now before the courts, no further comment will be made,” a spokesman said.

A statement from police on Friday said the charges stemmed from matters that were investigated as part of the Commission of Inquiry into the state government’s responses to child sexual abuse in institutional settings.

The taskforce is a specialist team investigating child abuse allegations from the Commission of Inquiry that works closely with government agencies to hold alleged perpetrators to account.

The inquiry found widespread systematic abuse was experienced by some the children and young people held at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre which is located in a remote area.

Police encouraged anyone with information about any form of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, to come forward and report it to Crime Stoppers Tasmania or directly to police.