Former Perth primary school deputy principal faces court on 19 child sex charges

A former deputy principal of a Perth public school accused of child sex offences has had his identity suppressed after his lawyer argued he had suffered vigilante attacks. The 53-year-old man is facing 19 charges, including 10 of indecently dealing with a child aged over 13 and under 16. He has also been charged with five counts of procuring a child of or over 13 and under 16 to do an indecent act and three counts of encouraging a child in the same age range to do an indecent act. The man also faces one count of encouraging a child over 16 under his care to engage in sexual behaviour. The alleged offences occurred in multiple Perth suburbs and in a Wheatbelt town between 1996 and 2021. The man fronted Armadale Magistrate’s Court in person on Tuesday, where his lawyer Olivia Russell won her bid to suppress the publication of anything that would identify her client. Ms Russell said that after complainants discussed the legal proceedings, his house had been targeted by vigilantes on five occasions. It had escalated “from flour bombs and egg attacks” to causing costly damage to his home, which he was in the process of selling. “He’s also terrified to leave his home,” she said. The lawyer said she had seen footage of young men wearing masks, and yelling obscenities while damaging his house and car. Ms Russell said her client was moving in with family and they did not deserve to be “painted with the same brush”. The lawyer was unsuccessful in applying for a blanket suppression on the proceedings, but Magistrate Rosemarie Myers ordered the man’s identity not be revealed, saying she feared “further personal attacks” that “could result in actual violence”. The West Australian understands the man was also heavily involved in coaching sport in WA and Ms Russell mentioned that he was no longer allowed to participate. The man had his bail renewed and fled media outside court, dashing into a waiting car. He is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates court next month. The man is no longer employed by the Education Department and the charges do not relate to any current students. “This matter is currently before the courts, it would be inappropriate to make any further comments,” the department’s professional standards and conduct executive director Mary Brown said.