http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/ex-teacher-on-child-sex-charges/story-e6frg6o6-1111118896143
A SECOND teacher from Knox Grammar, an elite private boys school on Sydney’s North Shore, has been charged with alleged sex crimes against students.
Yesterday Barrie Tiffin Stewart, 71, a former music teacher, faced Hornsby Local Court charged with four child-sex offences dating back to 1984 and 1987.
A day earlier, another Knox Grammar teacher, Year 6 prep school master and sports coach Craig Treloar, 49, of Hornsby, was refused bail on four charges of indecency and indecent assault.
Police are calling for any other potential abuse victims at Knox to come forward.
The charges against Mr Treloar arose from complaints made by two men who were aged 11 and 12 when the alleged offences took place in 1986.
Although the accused men were teachers at Knox during the 1980s, police refused to speculate on whether there was any collusion between them.
The first of the charges relating to Mr Stewart allege that in 1984, while watching the victim, he “touched him inappropriately, including stroking his penis on the outside and inside of his clothing on numerous occasions”, according to documents tendered to the court.
The second charge alleges that while participating in a night-time school camp at Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River, Mr Stewart approached the victim, “placed hishand down his pants and stroked hispenis”.
The third and fourth charges allege that while driving a car, Mr Stewart instructed a 12-year-old boy “to rub his genitals”.
Mr Stewart’s lawyer, Andrea Turner, told the court he was a low flight risk, had served the community for more than 30 years as a teacher, did voluntary work in retirement and had no prior convictions.
Magistrate Lesley Brennan granted bail, describing the charges as “serious but towards the lower end of impropriety”.
He said Mr Stewart, of Palm Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches, had co-operated with police and had made some voluntary admissions, “which may go against him at some stage”. Mr Stewart must surrender his passport and not attend venues where he could mix socially with boys below the age of 18.
Knox headmaster John Weeks said the school was fully co-operating with the police investigation. “The allegations aired in Hornsby Local Court over the last two days are of great concern and the school urges anyone with any information that would assist the police to come forward,” he said in a statement.
Mr Weeks has also sent a letter to parents urging them to ask their sons about the media coverage of the case.
“Check with your boy about how they have been affected by the recent media reports … Discuss the issues openly — remind them that these are allegations and the courts work these through over time,” he said. “If your child shows or expresses distress, be supportive, contact the school and request that an appointment is made for the counsellors to see your son (preferably let your son know about this request). All boys are different and it is best that they be supported individually.”
Local Area Commander Superintendent Shane White said Strike Force Arika had been formed on Tuesday night as a result of information they were receiving following the arrests.
“We have received a number of further phone calls from potential victims relating to this particular school,” he said.
“The allegations are extremely serious, abhorrent if proven, and do warrant the attention that we are giving them.”