*This article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse and molestation that may be distressing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
A former Sydney school principal Roger Ashcroft was found guilty of inappropriately touching two students aged 10 and 16-years-old.
Last week, the NSW District court strongly upheld the charges against Ashcroft, rejecting his plea appeal.
Ashcroft, who was previously employed at Gateway Community High School in Carlingford, was accused of sexual molestation on two separate occasions.
The court heard testimonies from the victims, detailing incidents where in one case, Ashcroft under the guise of checking a young girl’s work, placed his arm on her shoulder and started to “travel down” near her chest, “grabbing and feeling around that area”.
The student reported pushing him away before the bell rang.
The second incident took place at Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School located at the foot of Blue Mountains in Western Sydney. Similarly, Ashcroft allegedly placed his hand on another student’s chest for “a couple of seconds”.
The student phoned her mother when a teacher noticed her crying and took her to the deputy principal to report the incident.
While three additional claims of inappropriate thigh-touching were initially brought forward by other students, Ashcroft was acquitted of those charges. However, the Crown used these testimonies as “tendency evidence”, indicating a pattern of grossly inappropriate behaviour towards students.
District Judge Alister Abadee strongly upheld the two convictions, deeming Ashcroft
“sexually interested in teenage schoolgirls with an associated tendency to opportunistically act on it”.
Ashcroft’s defense argued the incidents were simply accidental or non-sexual.
However, Judge Abadee found the pattern of behavior condemning , suggesting the three earlier thigh-touching incidents “manifested a tendency” , proving the former school principal ‘s intent in violating the latter students.
Ashcroft will now serve a two years and eight months community corrections order, including supervision and 200 hours of community service.
NSW Education Department bans convicted school principal from teaching
The NSW Education Department reportedly told news com.au that Ashcroft was no longer working under them and now banned from teaching.
“The safety of our students is always our number one priority,” it said.
“Roger Ashcroft is not an employee of the department and cannot work in any NSW public school or departmental office.”
If you or anyone you know needs support or is at risk, please contact one of the following helplines:
1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
Lifeline – 13 11 14
13YARN – 13 92 76
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