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Dilworth abuse: 80 more victims come forward, 33 new charges laid

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Tue, 22 Dec 2020, 10:04AM
Seven men had been charged after an investigation into alleged historical sexual offending at Dilworth School.
Seven men had been charged after an investigation into alleged historical sexual offending at Dilworth School.

Dilworth abuse: 80 more victims come forward, 33 new charges laid

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Tue, 22 Dec 2020, 10:04AM

Police investigating historical sex offending at Auckland's Dilworth School have filed an additional 33 charges as part of Operation Beverly.

And 80 additional victims have now been identified, Detective Senior Sergeant Geoff Baber said.

Police today filed additional charges against five men aged between 68 and 78.

Baber said the new charges included allegations of indecency with boys under 16 years old, inducing a boy under 12 to do an indecent act, unlawful sexual connection, and indecent assault.

Operation Beverly, the police operation into alleged offending at Dilworth, started in September.

Baber said police received a large volume of phone calls and emails from former Dilworth students of the school.

But he still encouraged anyone with information to contact Operation Beverly by phoning (09) 302 6624 or emailing [email protected].

Dilworth School was opened in 1906 with the aim of helping boys from disadvantaged families.

But police allege serious offences occurred at the school from the 1970s to the 2000s.

Although news of the arrests broke in September, Operation Beverly started in mid-2019.

Baber said the additional charges announced today were all against five men who were already before the courts as a result of the investigation.

Alister Grant Harlow and Ian Robert Wilson were named on October 5 in relation to the alleged offending.

Harlow, a Hillsborough accountant aged 60, faced a charge of indecently assaulting a boy aged over 16 in 1990.

He was associate housemaster of Erin House at the time of the alleged offending.

Harlow has a district court trial date set for February 2022.

In October, Scouts chief executive Joshua Tabor told the Herald police had been in contact about the Dilworth allegations and the organisation was "co-operating with the investigation".

Tabor confirmed that Harlow and Wilson contributed to running the Scout group at Dilworth.

Wilson, of Maraetai, pleaded guilty to two charges involving indecent acts while he worked at Dilworth School.

Wilson started at Dilworth in 1971 as a tutor in Mac House before leaving at the end of 1973 to further his studies.

He returned in 1975 and held several positions before leaving in 1996.

Rex Clarence McIntosh, who lost name suppression in November but could not be named until December 9, has denied charges of indecent assault relating to two complainants.

Manurewa vicar Ross Douglas Browne, an Anglican priest and former Dilworth chaplain, also faces charges.

Browne, 72, was also heavily involved in Scouts and amateur theatrical company the Auckland Gang Show.

The Herald in October reported Browne was accused of indecently assaulting three boys between 1991 and 2002.

One of the men charged died on November 27.

He still had name suppression.

He had been earlier diagnosed with cancer.

The man was accused of indecently assaulted a boy between the start of 1975 and the end of 1976.

Where to get help:

  • If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
  • If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline

on: 0800 044 334 or text 4334.

  • Alternatively contact your local police station
  • If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.

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