PE teacher Robert Graham Sebbens admits historical sex crimes against boys at school

A former PE teacher left a young boy so frightened he was in tears and unable to speak after he was molested in the school sick bay.

A former Melbourne PE teacher who sexually assaulted boys at school left one of his victims “terrified” and in tears after abusing him in the sick bay.

Robert Graham Sebbens admitted indecently assaulting a young boy in a sick bay, and forcing another to strip and shower in front of others while he worked as a teacher at Therry College in the 1980s.

The now 73-year-old was sentenced in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, over the crimes committed against the boys.

The victim from the sick bay, aged about 13 at the time, was so shaken he couldn’t explain what happened when another teacher asked.

Robert Graham Sebbens abused two boys at a school in the 1980s. Picture Supplied

“This young boy was so frightened he was reduced to tears,” magistrate Hayley Bate said in her sentencing remarks.

The offending had a marked impact on the victim, and left him with an ongoing sense of shame and low self-esteem, she said.

Several years later, Sebbens would force his second victim, aged about 13 or 14, to strip naked in the showers in front of him and other onlookers.

Sebbens “singled out” the boy, and “stood and stared” as he showered.

This experience left him feeling “utterly humiliated”, Ms Bate said.

He was in a position of power and trust over this boys and profoundly breached it, she said.

Sebbens was ordered to serve 18 months in prison for both crimes but his term was suspended for two years. Picture: Supplied

“You ... (had) no regard for the impact you had on them at the time,” Ms Bates said.

Sebbens was “largely focused on himself and how his life will be impacted” rather than the impact of his crimes against the victims, she added.

The magistrate hoped Sebbens realised the “true magnitude” of his offending against the boys had sunk in and that he would demonstrate insight into his crimes.

Sebbens pleaded guilty to a rolled up charge of indecent assault against the first victim and to one count of gross indecency in relation to the second.

He will be a registered sex offender for 15 years.