Dutch Jewish teacher sentenced to 2 years for
child sexual assault
child sexual assault
Former teacher convicted of inappropriately touching 13-year-old student while working at Orthodox school; teacher, who moved to Israel and was extradited back to Netherlands, ordered to pay €6,000 in compensation, barred from teaching for 5 years.
Itay Blumenthal|
Teacher Efraim S., who worked at an esteemed school of the Amsterdam Jewish-Orthodox community and sexually assaulted one of his students, was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison by a Dutch court.
The teacher was extradited to The Netherlands more than two years ago, after escaping to Israel and teaching there as well.
In 2012, the teacher inappropriately touched a 13-year-old student and massaged different areas of his body several times, according to court documents. "The man gravely took advantage of the victim's fragile state and harmed his physical and sexual well-being," the court's ruling said.
The teacher also taught in Israel, before being extradited to his home country to face charges of sexual assault
Efraim was also ordered by the court to pay his student 6,000 euros in compensation, and he has been barred from teaching in the next five years.
That's dreadful! He should be barred from teaching for life.
The former educator was initially accused of sexually abusing five more students, aged six to 13, with prosecution proving he had indeed massaged two of them on the shoulders and neck.
While his actions were inappropriate and unwelcome, the court did not find them sexual and he was therefore not convicted of sexual abuse in the aforementioned instances.
As for the remaining three students, it was determined their testimonies did not suffice to prove an illegal act had been committed.
Initial suspicions against the Jewish teacher came to light in 2012, but the school refused to press charges at first, announcing it had held a "clarification talk with the teacher."
Obviously, that did a lot of good.
After suspicions of harming other students came to light, however, and the affair making national headlines, the school's administration joined the complaint against him as well.
While the complaint was being processed, Efraim left his home country for Israel. At the end of January 2014, Dutch authorities contacted Israel and submitted an extradition request.
More than two years later, on March 2016, he was arrested and extradited.
Pedophile teacher sentenced to 7 years in prison in Israel
Tel Aviv District Court sentences Shaul Shamai, who admitted to statutory rape of 6 girls in plea bargain; 4 of the girls were students at his school, while he tutored remaining 2; judge also criticizes fact that Shamai was previously charged in another sexual assault case but was allowed to remain a teacher.
Gilad Morag
A teacher convicted of statutory rape of six young girls, some of whom went to the school in which he taught, was sentenced on Monday to seven years in prison.
The teacher, 49-year-old Rishon LeZion resident Shaul Shamai, was convicted as part of a plea bargain. Four of his victims, aged 7-8, were pupils at the school while the remaining two received private lessons from him.
In addition to the seven year sentence, Tel Aviv District Court Judge Zvi Gurfinkel gave Shamai an 18 month suspended sentence and ordered him to pay each girl NIS 25,000 in compensation.
Teacher Shaul Shamai was sentenced to 7 years in prison for the statutory rape of six girls (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
While the plea agreement was approved back in January, the parties could not reach an agreement on the sentencing, with the State Attorney's Office pushing for a sentence of 10 to 18 years.
Judge Gurfinkel said at the sentencing that, "The severity of the defendant's actions could not be overstated. He abused his position as teacher and educator and the trust his students placed in him to systematically carry out his deeds."
Gurfinkel also criticized the fact that a report of a previous conviction in a similar case was not made known to the relevant authorities, allowing him to continue to serve as a teacher. "The offenses in this case were committed while the defendant was charged with sexual assault in another instance, all while serving as a teacher," he said.
And yet, he sentenced him to only 7 years.
The attorney representing the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office commented on the sentence, saying, "The court has accepted our position and levied the defendant with a harsh sentence in accordance with the grave circumstances of the case."
The prolonged prison sentence, attorney Kineret Kahan Mor added, will serve as a deterrent for anyone entrusted with the safety and well-being of children, who then takes advantage of their naiveté and helplessness to harm them.
Shamai's attorney Tali Gottlieb provided comment of her own, saying, "The court accepted all of our claims, as to the fact that while we have an obligation to send a perpetrator to prison we must also, as a society, take into account that he confessed, showed regret and asked for treatment."
"The mere fact that my client confessed is rare and unusual in cases such as these, and speaks for itself in reflecting his true, honest regret without first securing a promise for any (reduced) punishment," she added.
The victims' lawyers said on behalf of the families: "As the District Court's verdict shows, this is a horrifying case, which undoubtedly could have been prevented—as could the immense harm caused to the helpless minors, who were exposed to the pedophile teach—with better conduct. Now, with the completion of the criminal proceedings, a damages claim will soon be filed against all of the relevant elements, and we can only hope the necessary lessons will be learned to avoid terrible cases such as this from repeating."
Shamai worked as a substitute teacher at an elementary school in northern Tel Aviv from October 2016 until June 2017. He was arrested after one of the students told her mother he had hurt her, and the mother complained to the principal.
The teacher was charged in June 2017 with multiple counts of indecent acts against four second grade students and a 13-year-old girl he was privately tutoring. He was also charged at the Magistrate's Court in the city with working at an institution despite being convicted of a sexual offense.
While 10 complaints have been made by second grade students against Shamai, only five complaints were eventually included in the indictment.
According to the indictment, during his time at the Tel Aviv elementary school, Shamai sexually assaulted girls aged 7-8 in several separate incidents. He allegedly carried out the acts during class and in front of the other students in the classroom.
Shamai sat the students down on his lap, put his hands under their clothes and touched their private parts, at times despite their verbal and physical objections.
The sentencing also included another case in which Shamai was convicted of indecent acts against another girl he was giving private lessons to. In that instance, the suspect had fondled the girl and attempted to kiss her on several occasions.
Shamai also admitted to not informing the school principal he had been previously convicted of a sexual offense.
Unfortunately, there is nothing in this report to indicate that anything will be done by anyone, to prevent this from happening again. I hope the children are able to sue the school and the judicial system for allowing this creep to keep teaching after having been convicted. Both have failed the children of Tel Aviv.
Sydney violin teacher charged over alleged indecent assault of 6 y/o girl
A music teacher will face court today charged over the alleged indecent assault of a 6-year-old girl in Sydney's north.
Earlier this month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad launched an investigation following reports a schoolgirl had been indecently assaulted by her violin tutor.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 21-year-old man at Redfern Police Station about 1pm yesterday.
The man was charged with 20 counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 years.
Police allege the man indecently assaulted the girl on numerous occasions during private violin lessons at an after-school facility at Denistone East.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court later today.
The man's employment at the facility has been suspended and investigations are continuing.
Tasmanian Anglican Church to launch probe into retired bishop's response to sexual abuse
By Rhiannon ShineA preliminary hearing to investigate a retired bishop's response to child sexual abuse by a former priest will start next month, Tasmania's Anglican Church has announced.
The move has been welcomed by abuse survivor groups but they fear the church's powers are limited and have repeated their calls for a criminal investigation.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse held hearings in Hobart in 2016 to examine responses to allegations within the Church of England Boy's Society (CEBS) and Anglican Diocese in Tasmania.
The commission found: "In view of the fact that Bishop Newell was aware that three separate boys had complained, it is difficult to understand how he could have been assured that the conduct would not be repeated."
In a statement provided to the ABC, a spokeswoman for the Anglican Church said the Diocesan Tribunal planned to hold a preliminary hearing in June and a substantive hearing later in the year.
She said the Ewan Crawford, the former Supreme Court judge in Tasmania, would have carriage of the tribunal.
Beyond Abuse spokesman and survivor Steve Fisher welcomed the announcement but said it had been a long and frustrating wait for action. "It is fantastic news that it is starting to happen and the ball is starting to roll," he said.
"Whilst it is frustrating and we would like it to be over as soon as possible, unfortunately that is not possible. I have faith that the Anglican Church are going to do the right thing here."I think victims of Louis Daniels will be breathing a sigh of relief. They would be feeling rather elated that we now know justice is going to be done.
"There is a lot of angst among the survivors that Philip Newell has never really had to be accountable and the fact that it is starting to happen now will make survivors feel a lot better about the whole process."
Police probes stemming from royal commission continue
If the church tribunal finds Bishop Newell failed to properly handle the child sexual abuse matters, possible sanctions are deposition from holy orders, prohibition from functioning, removal from office, and a rebuke.
While the claims against Bishop Newell do not concern concealing child sexual abuse but rather failing to adequately deal with sexual abuse complaints, Mr Fisher said this week's landmark ruling against Adelaide's Archbishop Philip Wilson had left survivors hopeful of a possible criminal investigation.
"It is up to Tasmania Police and it is a matter that they are across," he said. "Through process with the Anglican Church, the highest penalty that he can get is removal of the holy orders."
In a statement, a Tasmania Police spokeswoman said it could not comment on or confirm anything to do with an individual who may or may not be subject to investigation. The spokeswoman said Tasmania Police received a total of 85 referrals from the royal commission.
"Of these, 59 investigations have been completed," she said.
"The definition of 'completed' includes a range of outcomes, such as complaints being withdrawn, insufficient evidence, the alleged offender was deceased and sufficient information for an intelligence report only.
"Nine investigations are ongoing and police are sourcing further information in 17 cases.
"Due to the historical and highly complex nature of the referrals, the investigation process is expected to take some time.
"Police are also working to ensure release of information about the investigations and referrals does not adversely impact on victims or current investigations."
Hobart, Tas
Sex offence history forces MSVU valedictorian's removal
MAGGIE RAHR
Ricardo Gorski was about to give the Valedictorian address at Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Mount Saint Vincent University spring convocation until his past was revealed.
Until that Wednesday, Gorski was slated to deliver the valedictorian address.
But at the last minute, the university was scrambling to prevent him from reaching the podium microphone. The dean of Gorski’s department asked him to rescind his role.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the school had been notified by a concerned citizen of their valedictorian’s past, and present: as a registered sex offender, who’d been sentenced to two years in a federal prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Now 20, Katherine was just wrapping up a day at her full-time job, and heading to her part-time job, when she got a text from one of her best friends. It stopped her dead in her tracks.
“There’s no good time to see this,” her friend warned.
Katherine took a deep breath and clicked on the link — an article trumpeting Ricardo Gorski as valedictorian for Mount Saint Vincent University.
His name had changed. But Katherine instantly recognized the man smiling back at her in the photo. It was the face of her former soccer coach, whom she knew then as Konstanty “Kostek” Bedoa-Gorski, the man who was sent to prison for sexually assaulting her when she was still in junior high school.
The valedictorian in the write-up is described as “a natural leader who has the unique ability to bring out the best in his team . . . but above all . . . consistent, kind-hearted, and sincere.”
Katherine was floored.
“It was like fire replaced blood in my veins.”
“To put him up on a pedestal like that . . . does nobody fact check anymore?”
Katherine has fought hard to put the abuse behind her and move on. She recognizes that a registered sex offender can change their name, as Gorski did, and pursue education; two legally protected rights.
But still, word of her abuser’s academic ascendancy struck through Katherine like an arrow. “He changed his name and he’s fine, he just went back to his life,” she says,
“And I wasn’t able to go back to my life after it happened.”
In May 2014, Konstanty “Kostek” Bedoa-Gorski was sentenced to two years in a federal penitentiary, and two years probation, for sexually assaulting one of the young players with MAPS Elite, a high-performance soccer program for kids aged 12-16.
His victim was then-14-year-old Katherine.
Judge Michael Sherar ordered that 24-year-old Bedoa-Gorski register as a sex offender for 20 years following his release from prison, and prohibited him from taking any volunteer position or job that would place him in authority over children under the age of 16.
He was assessed as a mild to moderate risk to reoffend.
When news of the charges against him broke, Bedoa-Gorski was suspended from Saint Mary’s University, where he was studying at the time.
There is more on this story here.
MSVU, Halifax, Nova Scotia
He raped her 10 years ago. Now she wants his latest victims to know they're not alone
Canada's kid glove justice system ensured there would be many more victims of this monster
One Survivor's Story
Bethany Lindsay · CBC News 
R.H. now has her 'dream job' and a son she adores, but the abuse took a heavy toll on her life. (Daniel Taekema/CBC)
For years after Michael Bannon was sent to prison for raping her when she was 17, R.H. kept tabs on his whereabouts.
Then, a few months ago, the Ontario woman typed Bannon's name into Google, and discovered he was in trouble once again — this time in Vancouver, where he'd admitted to running an underage prostitution ring involving children as young as 14.
"All I want to do is reach out to them and say I'm sorry that I couldn't stop it. He only got so much time. He got out, and he just kept on doing this stuff.," R.H. said of the victims.
Most shocking of all was the news that one young woman had died of a drug overdose before she had a chance to testify against Bannon.
"I would even fly out there and talk to them, so they know it's not just them and they can get past it. I'm 100-per-cent open to those things because … I don't want to see another one of them overdose."
As a victim of sex offences, R.H.'s identity is protected by a publication ban. In 2010, Bannon was convicted in Toronto of two counts of sexual assault for forcing her into vaginal and oral sex, and sentenced to 26 months, according to documents from Ontario's Superior Court of Justice. He would be sentenced to another 30 months for tax fraud while he was behind bars.
This just drives me absolutely crazy! 26 months for two counts of what is basically rape, and 30 months for tax fraud. What kind of insanity is that? When is tax fraud more important than the rape of a child? The Canadian justice system is completely skewed away from the protection of children - children, who have no voice and need our protection seem to be of least concern to judges in Canada and far too many other countries.
B.C. Supreme Court heard that Bannon was out on parole for those crimes in 2014 when he began putting together the highly lucrative Vancouver prostitution ring that would eventually land him a 14-year prison sentence. He pimped 9 girls, 8 of them were under 18.
Sin is progressive!
Meeting 'Shane Silverthorn'
R.H. told CBC that she was an insecure 16-year-old when she met Bannon, uncomfortable with her weight and worried no one would ever love her.
They met in early 2008 on an online dating site, where Bannon, then 25, was going by the alias "Shane Silverthorn." He made her feel good about herself, and they finally met in person that November.
"We decided that we wanted to be together. We were happy. And then December 16 happened," R.H. remembered.
R.H. met Bannon through an online dating site. (Getty Images)
He took her to a tiny bachelor apartment above a bakery in Toronto, where she stayed for the next five days.
On Dec. 21, the day of Bannon's arrest, R.H. discovered that he was running a fraud operation out of the apartment. The discovery frightened her, according to court documents, and she refused Bannon's sexual advances.
He sexually assaulted her twice that day. The second time, she cried as he raped her.
Police raided the apartment that night, after R.H. reached out to friends and family online. She wouldn't see Bannon again until she testified against him.
Bannon was charged with unlawful confinement along with sexual assault, and R.H. testified that she was held in the apartment against her will. He was convicted in June 2010 on two counts of sexual assault, but acquitted on the unlawful confinement charge.
Create a goal; Don't skip therapy
It's been a slow climb to reclaim her life in the decade since the assaults, but at 27 R.H. has built a satisfying career and now cares for a son she adores. "I wouldn't be who I am now without it, but it sure does take a toll, and it took a really big toll on my family," she said of the abuse.
If she could speak with the young people who were exploited by Bannon in Vancouver, she'd give them two pieces of advice about recovering from their trauma — create a goal to work toward, and don't skip your therapy.
"My biggest goal was to go to college, and get a diploma, get a job, do something to help somebody," she said. She now has her "dream job" working with children, including kids from lower income families, and feels like her life has a purpose.
The therapy part of the equation took a bit longer to appreciate. Though she visited a counsellor a few times after Bannon abused her, it wasn't until years later, when she was going through a divorce, that she began seeing someone regularly.
"I wish I would have continued when I first went, after the fact. I was broken, and I didn't know how to deal with it," she said.
She still struggles with intimate relationships, and refuses to go online to meet people. But having a small person to care for helps keep things in perspective.
"Being a mom, that's my biggest thing," she said. "Being there for my son and knowing that I can do my best to protect him from these things ever happening to him ... if I didn't have him, certain times I don't think I'd be here."
Historical child sex abuse investigators
secure 10th conviction
Ex care home boss Bryan Davies is the latest to be convicted as part of Operation Pallial
By Owen EvansFour further trials are set to take place as part of a long-running investigation into the sexual abuse of children in North Wales.
Predatory paedophile Bryan Davies, 71, a former Llangollen care home boss, became the 10th person to be convicted as part of Operation Pallial, a National Crime Agency investigation into historical abuse that allegedly took place in the region from the 1950s to the 1990s.
The large-scale operation has already seen a number of high-profile convictions - including ex-care home boss John Allen and former police boss Gordon Anglesea, who has since died.
Allen, who owned and ran the Bryn Alyn Community homes, was jailed for life after being found guilty of a string of historic offences against children as young as seven.
Anglesea, a former superintendent at North Wales Police, was jailed for 12 years over historical offences in 2016.
From left: Bryan Davies, John Allen and Gordon Anglesea (Image: Daily Post Wales)
He died a month later in hospital due to natural causes.
Eight others have also been convicted of crimes in relation to the investigation.
The latest abuser to be convicted, Davies, is currently in hospital in London after going on the run and slitting his throat in an attempt to take his own life before a jury found him guilty of 19 offences - 15 of indecent assault upon six of the complainants and four of an illegal sex act upon another complainant.
He was found not guilty of indecently assaulting three other complainants and indulging in an illegal sex act upon one of them.
They also convicted Davies of six charges of making indecent images of children between 2007 and 2013, and three charges of inciting young boys to indulge in sexual acts over the internet in 2011 and 2012.
Davies was arrested in Malta in 2017 after he went on the run following his arrest in 2013.
Roger Owen Griffiths at Mold Crown Court. He was found guilty of possessing animal porn (Image: Robert Parry-Jones)
North Wales Police ’s outgoing chief constable Mark Polin said he was aware victims had waited a long time for justice in these cases.
He said: “I would like to thank the NCA for the thorough and professional investigation they have conducted since Operation Pallial began at my request five and a half years ago.
“There have been 10 convictions to date and the team have worked closely with North Wales Police, other partners and agencies to deliver advice and support to victims of past abuse and to investigate crimes.”
Former Bryn Alyn Hall care home worker, Keith Alan Evans, 71 from Rhosrobin, Wrexham
“The victims in each case have waited a long time for justice. It has not been an easy journey for them and it has taken courage to stand by their convictions.”
“Nothing anyone can do now will change the past, but the investment which now goes in to investigating sexual abuse and the significance it is given is considerably different to how it was in the past.”
In total, 372 people have made contact with investigators as part of Operation Pallial .
Investigations into the evidence provided by 257 of them have concluded and details provided by 43 complainants are either with the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration of charges, or are part of active investigations.
Eddie Huxley, aged 70, a former Wrexham civil servant from Maidenhead, Berkshire. Huxley, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault. He received four and a half years in prison. (Image: National Crime Agency)
The offences reported occurred between 1953 and 1995, with victims ranging from six to 19 years old at the time.
The investigation has identified 146 suspected offenders, the majority in respect of sexual offending against boys.
Of these suspects, 23 have been arrested to date, 42 have been interviewed under caution following voluntary attendance, and 41 suspects are believed to have died.
So far, 21 suspects have been charged, of which matters have concluded against 17.
Investigators paid tribute to the victims in the case against Davies.
Gary Cook, (also known as Mark Grainger) was jailed for 14 years
“It is testament to their resolution and integrity that they have sought and achieved justice for events that happened over 40 years ago, but which for them remain real and tangible in their personal lives.”
Karen Mullin of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “Bryan Davies used his position of influence to prey on young boys, promising them goods and home visits in order to win their trust.
“His abuse was planned and calculated, driven by his own gratification.
George Neil Phoenix, a former bus driver from Wrexham, was found guilty of one count of sexual abuse. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. (Image: National Crime Agency)
“Despite the lengths Davies went to in order to evade the authorities, he was unsuccessful and was brought back to the UK to face justice.
“The victims have shown great courage in giving their evidence to the court, and we thank them for their support. They have waited decades to see the man who abused them answer for his crimes. We hope that it provides some comfort for them.”
Davies is set to be sentenced next Friday.
The NCA said four more trials are set to begin soon.
Those convicted are:
Gordon Anglesea - former North Wales Police superintendent who was jailed in 2016 for eight years for a string of offences. He died in 2016.
John Allen - former care home boss jailed for life in 2014 for a catalogue of offences.
Bryan Davies - Convicted on Thursday of a string of offences while a care home boss in Llangollen. He is due to be sentenced next month
Roger Griffiths - Former headmaster from Wrexham who was jailed for nine months in 2016 for possession of animal porn. He was cleared of two charges of indecent assault.
David Lightfoot, aged 72, a publican in Wrexham in the 1980s, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire was found guilty of nine offences. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. (Image: National Crime Agency)
Keith Evans - Former care home worker from Wrexham who was convicted of a child cruelty offence in 2016. He was given a suspended eight month prison sentence.
Eddie Huxley - a former Wrexham civil servant from Maidenhead, Berkshire. Huxley, was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault. He received four and a half years in prison.
Gary Cook (also known as Mark Grainger) - A former professional wrestler from Leicester was found guilty of 16 counts of sexual abuse and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
George Neil Phoenix - a former bus driver from Wrexham, was found guilty of one count of sexual abuse. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
Marc Roy Norry was jailed for 11 years (Image: National Crime Agency)
David Lightfoot - a publican in Wrexham in the 1980s, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire was found guilty of nine offences. He was sentenced to ten years in prison.
Marc Roy Norry - a former local radio presenter from Connahs Quay, Flintshire, was found guilty of six offences. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
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