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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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A former Salvation Army captain
who managed a children's home in South Canterbury has admitted four sex-abuse
charges but denied 23 others. John Francis Gainsford, 69, of
Auckland, pleaded guilty in the High Court in Timaru yesterday to three
counts of indecently assaulting girls aged under 12 and one of inducing a
girl under 12 to perform an indecent act. The charges are representative. Gainsford,
who used to manage the Bramwell Booth children's home in Temuka, in rural
South Canterbury, has denied three allegations of rape, one of attempted
rape, 10 of indecent assault, three of committing an indecent act on girls
under 12, two of indecently assaulting a girl aged between 12 and 16, two of
inducing an indecent act and two of indecently assaulting a boy under 16.
Eighteen of those counts are representative. The offences are alleged to have
occurred in the 1970s and involve eight complainants, seven female and one
male. All details relating to their identity are suppressed, as are details
relating to two Crown witnesses. The trial, before Justice Fogarty
and a jury, is expected to take two weeks. Tim Gresson (with Craig O'Connor),
for the Crown, said Gainsford began a pattern of abusive behaviour while at
Bramwell Booth. Some assaults are alleged in
offices, at a woolwash and in a laundry. Gresson said Gainsford was moved
from Bramwell Booth after allegations he indecently touched and had sex with
girls at the home. A former male pupil would allege
he was asked by Gainsford to kneel and pray while an indecency took place. A former female resident said she
was raped twice by Gainsford, both times on lolly night, when residents were
allowed to buy sweets. The complainant said Gainsford indecently assaulted
her as he carried her in piggy-back races. At first, the witness said,
Gainsford was nice and seemed like a father figure. She said he touched her indecently
two or three times a week. The witness said she told other
girls about Gainsford's behaviour and they said similar things had happened
to them. A staff member was told and a
meeting was held, after which Gainsford left. The witness said Gainsford took
her twice to what was known as the "halfway house" and got into bed
with her. He raped her. After the rape she said she was
walked back to her bed and tucked in. Paul Dacre, of Auckland, appears
for Gainsford |
