Child abuser could face 10 years
A MAN who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing four teenage girls while a mentor at a prominent Jewish organisation fronted court on Friday last week for a plea hearing.
A MAN who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing four teenage girls while a mentor at a prominent Jewish organisation fronted court on Friday last week for a plea hearing.
According to court documents, the 36-year-old man, who was in his early 20s when the incidents occurred between 1999 and 2000, admitted to four charges, including two of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child under 16, and one of attempted sexual penetration of a girl under his care.
The man, who cannot be named, but is believed not to be Jewish, will be sentenced on Wednesday and could face up to 10 years in jail.
According to reports in the Herald Sun, the court heard the man abused his position of power to take advantage of the girls, who are understood to be Jewish. The man, who was seen as a “great role model” and a “big brother”, lied to one victim, telling her he had cancer and stood only a 50 per cent chance of surviving.
Judge Meryl Sexton praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward and cast the man as an intelligent and manipulative adult at the time the offences were committed.
The man made a deal with prosecutors in July, when he became the first offender linked to a Jewish organisation to plead guilty to child sexual offences.
Late last month, former Yeshivah teacher David Kramer pleaded guilty to six charges relating to child sexual abuse and was sentenced to three years and four months jail.
David Cyprys, another former employee of the college, will front court later this month on 40 charges including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against 12 alleged victims aged between seven and 20 during the 1980s.
ADAM KAMIEN
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