A FORMER Junee and Coolamon high school teacher who allegedly raped one of his students several times has today been charged by police.
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Detectives from Strike Force Cornet arrested an 81-year-old man who is believed to have sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy from Junee High School on a number of occasions between 1966 and 1971.
Wagga Police were able to pursue the industrial arts teacher after his victim, who is now aged in his 60s, revealed a history of abuse spanning back to his childhood.
Superintendent Commander Bob Noble has pleaded for information from the public amid fears the extent of the 81-year-old’s actions may not yet be known.
“Our experience tells us that matters like this can be quite far reaching and we are concerned about the broader range of the offenders’ activities,” he said.
“There’s every chance the victim who came forward has been suffering greatly for a number of decades.
“Anyone who was a student or a teacher at the schools in question during that time frame should come forward.”
Police will allege in court the man had access to the young boy and committed the acts in a variety of different locations, including the classroom and his own home.
The alleged paedophile has been charged with three counts of buggery and has been granted conditional bail on the proviso he surrenders his passport to police.
“We have been liaising with the school, itself affected by recent incidents, so we don’t want to affect the students during their stressful examination period,” crime manager Inspector Darren Cloake said.
“There is a risk of this fellow re-offending and so we will confiscate his passport to stop him from escaping overseas.”
Officers would not reveal if the 81-year-old’s computer had been confiscated during the arrest.
He will appear before Wagga Local Court on October 19.
