Guilty! Alan James Pollock, Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia (arrested Nov 2012) [sex abuse]

Discussion in 'English-Speaking Countries and Europe' started by TMP, Nov 13, 2012.

  1. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Sydney Catholic educators with issues:
    Alan James Pollock, 58, former relief teacher at Patrician Brothers' College [Catholic Education Office], Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia, "accused of molesting one of the same boys [as Brother Martin Harmata] as well as an eight-year-old girl during the late eighties"

    Also formerly taught at: St Bernadette's Primary School [Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta], Lalor Park, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    7 News: Teachers charged with child sex abuse (Nov 13 2012)

    The other arrested man is 58-year-old Alan James Pollock, a former relief teacher at the college, and at a local primary school. He's accused of molesting one of the same boys as well as an eight-year-old girl during the late eighties.

    Both men were arrested last night as part of a sex crimes investigation that has lasted more than a year. While detectives said yesterday's arrests are not closely linked, Seven News understands there are two other members of the staff who worked at the school over the same period who are currently under investigation.


    Tags:
     
    Alan James Pollock, Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia, Martin Harmata, Patrician Brothers' College, Catholic Education Office, St Bernadette's Primary School, Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, Lalor Park, Sydney
  2. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Express Advocate: Catholic brother arrested at The Entrance and charged with multiple child sex offences (Nov 13 2012)

    Strike Force Avia also arrested a 58-year-old former Catholic teacher in Blacktown shortly after 5pm yesterday. Police revealed he taught as a relief teacher at both the Catholic college in Blacktown and a Catholic primary school at Lalor Park. He has been charged with sexual assault of a child under 16; indecent assault of a child under 16); committing and indecent act on a child under 16 years; and indecent assault of child under 16 and under authority all relation to a 13-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl. The 58-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on December 13. The offences against the two boys allegedly occurred in 1987 while the offences against the 8-year-old girl allegedly took place in 1985.
     
  3. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Oz Teacher: NSW: Two charged over sex assaults (Nov 13 2012)

    A Catholic brother and a former Catholic teacher have been charged in New South Wales over alleged assaults on children dating back to the 1980s ... The former teacher, a 58-year-old man arrested at a Blacktown property, was charged with offences relating to a 13-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl. The charges are sexual assault on a child under 16, indecent assault on a child under 16, committing an indecent act on a child under 16 and indecent assault on a child under 16 and under authority. He has been granted strict conditional bail and will appear at Blacktown Local Court on December 13.
     
  4. TMP

    TMP Himself

    ABC News: Catholic Priest and teacher charged with child sex crimes (Nov 13 2012)

    As the Royal Commission into sexual abuse against children was being announced, New South Wales police were laying charges against a former teacher and a Catholic brother. The two men aged 58 and 59 were arrested last night and charged with a number of offences dating back 25 years. Meanwhile, the senior police officer who broke ranks to speak out against the police handling of sex abuse allegations involving the clergy says he'll now have to quit his job.
     
  5. TMP

    TMP Himself

    7 News: Ex-teacher, Catholic Brother charged over abuse (Nov 13 2012)

    A former relief teacher has also been charged with abusing children at the school and at St Bernadette's Primary School at Lalor Park. Last night's Lateline program aired allegations there was a paedophile network at Blacktown College. Father Lee claims there were at least four members. "You can't possibly have four [people] in a school doing something against children and none of the other staff being aware of it," he said. Acting Commander Haddow says police have not found evidence of systemic abuse.
     
  6. TMP

    TMP Himself

    The Australian: School link emerges as two are charged with child sex abuse (Nov 13 2012)

    ... Sex Crimes Squad commander Detective Acting Superintendent Michael Haddow said there was no evidence to suggest they were part of a pedophile ring. Detectives investigating the allegations of abuse relating to three children - an eight-year-old girl in 1985 and two 13-year-old boys in 1987 - made the arrests at separate locations last night. Police will allege some of the incidents took place at a Catholic college and a Catholic primary school in Sydney's west ... Police would allege that separate offences took place at separate times, although both men have been charged in relation to the same 13-year-old boy.
     
  7. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Brisbane Times: Catholic brother molested boys: NSW court (Nov 13 2012)

    Another former teacher, a 58-year-old man arrested at a Blacktown property on Monday, has been charged with offences relating to one of the boys and an eight-year-old girl. Police say the charges include sexual assault, indecent assault, committing an indecent act ... Police would allege that separate offences took place at separate times, although both men have been charged in relation to the same 13-year-old boy ... "There's no allegations in relation to these two offenders committed sex assaults together."

    WA Today: Catholic brother molested boys: NSW court (Nov 13 2012)
     
  8. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Blacktown Advocate: Patrician Brothers Blacktown former Brother Martin Harmata and teacher charged over child sex abuse (Nov 13 2012)

    A former Patrician Brothers Catholic Brother, Martin Harmata, and teacher who both allegedly sexually abused the same 13-year-old boy did so on separate occasions and were not working together, the head of an investigation into the 25-year-old allegations said today. The two men were charged on Monday night with numerous child sex offences allegedly committed against an eight-year-old girl in 1985 and two 13-year-old boys in 1987.
     
  9. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Cobar Age: Catholic brother, teacher on child sex charges (Nov 13 2012)

    An investigation, named Strike Force Avia, was established in October last year after three victims, two males and a female, came forward. Yesterday police arrested the 58-year-old male teacher, who worked part-time at both the school and college, in Blacktown. He was charged with sexual assault and indecent assault relating to the alleged abuse of a 13-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl.
     
  10. TMP

    TMP Himself

    9 News: Come forward, NSW sex abuse victims urged (Nov 13 2012)

    Any more victims of two Catholic educators charged with molesting children shouldn't be deterred from coming forward by the royal commission, police say. A NSW court heard on Tuesday that Martin Harmata, 59, allegedly sexually abused two 13-year-old boys in the 1980s at a Catholic college and a Catholic primary school in Sydney's west. Another former teacher is also accused of molesting one of those boys as well as an eight-year-old girl. But there's no evidence, so far, of a paedophile ring operating at the schools, Sex Crimes Squad commander Detective Acting Superintendent Michael Haddow said on Tuesday.
     
  11. TMP

    TMP Himself

    New South Wales Police Force Press Release (Nov 13 2012):

    Former Catholic teacher and Catholic Brother charged over historical assaults - Sex Crimes Squad

    Tuesday, 13 November 2012 12:47:20 AM

    A former Catholic teacher and a Catholic Brother have now been charged by Sex Crimes Squad detectives.

    Strike Force Avia was established by the Sex Crimes Squad in October 2011 to investigate the allegations which relate to two boys, aged 13, in 1987, and one girl, aged eight, in 1985.

    It will be alleged a number of the incidents occurred on school grounds at a Catholic college at Blacktown and a Catholic primary school at Lalor Park.

    Just after 5pm yesterday (Monday 12 November 2012), detectives from Strike Force Avia arrested a 58-year-old former Catholic teacher at an address in Blacktown.

    He was taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged with sexual assault (child under 16); indecent assault (child under 16); commit indecent act (child under 16 years); and indecent assault (child under 16 and under authority). The charges relate to a 13-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl.

    The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court 13 December, 2012.

    About 6pm, a 59-year-old Catholic Brother was arrested at an address at The Entrance.

    He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with commit indecent act (child under 16 and under authority); and five counts of indecent assault (child under 16 and under authority). The charges relate to two 13-year-old boys.

    The man was bail refused to appear in Wyong Local Court today.

    Inquiries are continuing.

    Police encourage any victim of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the incident occurred, to report it to their local police station. All matters are investigated thoroughly.

    Anyone with information about child sexual abuse should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

    New South Wales Police Force Press Release (Nov 12 2012):

    Former Catholic teacher and Catholic Brother arrested over historical assaults - Sex Crimes Squad

    Monday, 12 November 2012 07:15:07 PM


    A former Catholic teacher and a Catholic Brother have today been arrested by Sex Crimes Squad detectives following a number of alleged historical assaults against children dating back 25 years.


    Strike Force Avia was established by the Sex Crimes Squad in October 2011 to investigate the allegations which relate to two boys, aged 13, in 1987, and one girl, aged eight, in 1985.

    It will be alleged a number of the incidents occurred on school grounds at a Catholic college at Blacktown and a Catholic primary school at Lalor Park.

    Just after 5pm today (Monday 12 November 2012), detectives from Strike Force Avia arrested a 58-year-old former Catholic teacher at an address in Blacktown.

    He was taken to Blacktown Police Station where he is assisting with inquiries.

    About 6pm, a 59-year-old Catholic Brother was arrested at an address at The Entrance.

    He was taken to Wyong Police Station where he is assisting with inquiries.

    Investigations are continuing.

    Police encourage any victim of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the incident occurred, to report it to their local police station. All matters are investigated thoroughly.

    Anyone with information about child sexual abuse should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

    Most other articles up to this point seem to be based on the above press releases:
     
  12. TMP

    TMP Himself

    ABC: Ex-teacher, Catholic brother face assault charges (Nov 13 2012)

    One of the victims, now a senior serving police officer, told Father Kevin Lee about the alleged abuse at the Patrician Brothers' College. Father Lee claimed a paedophile network operated at the school with at least four members. He told Lateline: "[The allegations include] the terrible masturbation of young boys, forcing oral sex on them, taking them and putting them in a situation of having sex with a number of teachers in the school and just the manipulation of vulnerable children. "You can't possibly have four in a school doing something against children and none of other staff being aware of it." Lateline spoke to three men who claim to be victims of abuse at the Blacktown school. "The victims range from that high-ranking police officer to a Comancheros bikie, so the selection of the victims... has destroyed some peoples' lives, but others have been able to pick them up again," Father Lee said. He told the program he first learnt of the alleged abuse while serving as the NSW police chaplain, when one of the victims attempted suicide.
     
  13. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Forbes Advocate: Catholic brother, teacher on child sex charges (Nov 14 2012)

    Police cannot rule out further arrests, or that more victims will come forward, after a Catholic brother and a teacher were charged over child sex offences at two western Sydney schools. The offences are alleged to have occurred at a Blacktown Catholic college and a Lalor Park primary school more than two decades ago. An investigation, named Strike Force Avia, was established in October last year after three victims, two males and a female, came forward. Yesterday police arrested the 58-year-old male teacher, who worked part-time at both the school and college, in Blacktown. He was charged with sexual assault and indecent assault relating to the alleged abuse of a 13-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl. An hour later they arrested a 59-year-old Catholic brother at a home at the Entrance on the Central Coast. He was charged with six counts of indecent assault relating to two 13-year-old boys. It is alleged that some of the offences occurred on the grounds of the primary school and college.
     
  14. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Newcastle Herald: Arrests over sex assaults (Nov 13 2012)

    A CATHOLIC brother and a former Catholic school teacher have been arrested over alleged sex assaults on children in the 1980s. Sex Crimes Squad detectives investigating allegations of abuse on an eight-year-old girl in 1985 and two 13-year-old boys in 1987 made the arrests last night. The 58-year-old former teacher was arrested at a Blacktown address just after 5pm and a 59-year-old Catholic Brother was arrested at The Entrance on the Central Coast an hour later.
     
  15. TMP

    TMP Himself

    SBS: Come forward, NSW sex abuse victims urged (Nov 14 2012)

    If there are more alleged victims of two Catholic educators charged with historical sex offences they should not wait for the royal commission, NSW police say. Any more victims of two Catholic educators charged with molesting children shouldn't be deterred from coming forward by the royal commission, police say.

    ...

    A 58-year-old former teacher was also arrested on Monday and has been charged with offences relating to one of the boys and an eight-year-old girl. Police say the charges include sexual assault, indecent assault and committing an indecent act. He has been granted strict conditional bail and will appear at Blacktown Local Court on December 13. The Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta said the man had not been employed by the diocese since 1992.
     
  16. Iremember

    Iremember Guest


    There's no evidence to suggest that they were working together? Really

    One of these men was my cricket coach, the other was a Brother/teacher at the school that I attended. Why I saw them in each others company constantly only now makes sense to me. Make your own assumptions.

    Still, innocent until proven guilty....but if you are guilty gentlemen may the full weight of the law come down on the both of you!
     
  17. You were my teacher, mr pollock its been over 25 years since you were my kindy relief teacher, you ruined me and u have the nerve to befriend my brother come to his wedding. I never told anyone until last night when i saw u on tv and collapsed on the floor, crying. Its all real now not just something in my head your face has haunted me for years. Admit what you have done so we can finally have some peace.
     
  18. Student

    Student Guest

    I too remember both of you and all the stories. I would have been in your year too. I guess this proves all the rumours to be true. Always knew something was wrong with you both (pollock & Martin)
     
  19. I was a student at St Bernadettes together with my siblings back in the 80's & 90's. They were also students of Patrician Brothers and remember the two accused very well. I was always weary of Pollock as a very young child. I knew in my head the way he used to try and touch us and 'tickle' us, boys and girls, that there was something very wrong with this man and learned to distance myself. I only wish they discovered your sick fascination with young children years ago before you had the opportunity to destroy the lives of these poor kids!
    Even though I was not harmed by these men, I feel so sad and angry since hearing the news of their arrest. The fact that it has taken 25 years to get them is terrible and sadly too late for some, but justice will prevail. I hope it's true what they say happens to men like them in jail. If so, they will both get what they deserve.
    I am a parent now myself and the thought of what I would do to someone like these bastards, if they laid a finger on either my children!!!! I would go to jail in order to make sure their lives were ruined too!
    I hope you both rot in hell Alan James Pollock and Martin Harmata!
     
  20. There is nothing more disturbing than our suspicions of 25 years ago coming true. When the news broke, myself , and my classmates did not need to hear the name of the Patrician Brother. We new immediately who would be involved. Brother Martin came across as a friendly and personable mentor, although a little weird. Every past student could testify that the behaviour and grooming tactics used by Harmarta when we were just 12 0r 13 years old, was friendly and personable for one reason - his own personal gratification, and complete degradation of peoples lives. We are fortunate now to have some very brave and courageous men, wanting to reveal what was done to them in order to gain a small amount of peace in their life, albeit after one attempted to take his own. Many past students of Patrician Brothers have passed on, some from suicide, some from inexplicable accidents. I wonder how many of these may have been dealing with the same issues forced upon them. If so, I hope they all rest easy now that these men are being faced with some justice for their acts. I was in immediate company of both of these evil men. To say they did not act together or pass information to each other would be very hard to believe, when they both knew each other well, and involved in childrens sports groups together. It is quite scary to know that i was within arms reach, of these 2 men, thought it was a bit weird and avoided them enough. I am fortunate that i somehow avoided these 2 accused perpetrators advances. I feel deep deep sorrow for 2 of my classmates, who have had to live with this for so long. I feel deep sorrow for the direction your lives may have taken you in dealing with this. But I applaud and support you both in any way I can.