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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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A former Salvation Army captain
has gone on trial in Timaru for historic sex abuse. While John Gainsford, 69, has
admitted assaulting some students in his care in the 1970s, he is defending
most of the charges he is up against. And at the start of the hearing,
he entered guilty pleas to four counts of indecent assault on two girls. But he is denying 23 charges of
rape, attempted rape and violation of another six former pupils. The abuse allegedly happened while
Gainsford was manager at the Bramwell Booth children's home in Temuka, just
south of Timaru. The crown alleges the rapes and
assaults took place mainly in and around the children's home. The prosecutor told the court
Gainsford would isolate the children purely for his sexual gratification, and
touched them during bath times, giving them piggy back rides and while he was
reading to them in bed. Gainsford left the home early in
1975. The crown says that was because Salvation Army authorities were alerted
to his offending. But it was not until last year
when the first complainant contacted police. The trial is expected to continue
another two weeks and all eight complainants, now in their 40s, will be
giving evidence. |
