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Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
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A woman only complained of sexual
abuse at the Salvation Army's Bramwell Booth Children's Home two years ago,
as prior to that she thought the alleged abuser was in prison. The woman was giving evidence in
the High Court in Timaru yesterday at the trial of former Salvation Army
captain John Gainsford, 69, on 23 indecency and rape charges. He pleaded guilty to three charges
of indecent assault on a girl aged under 12 (including this complainant) and
a charge of inducing a girl then aged under 12 to do an indecent act on him,
at the start of the trial last week. Five of the charges, including
attempted rape, related to the woman giving evidence yesterday. She recalled an incident in which
Gainsford took her to hospital to have her ankle x-rayed. On the way home he asked her if
she would like to sit on his knee and help him steer the van. While doing so he rubbed between
her legs. He then stopped the van and had her lie down on a seat before
indecently assaulting her and masturbating. She recalled the pain and
discomfort she felt for days after the incident. Gainsford told her she was a good
girl and what had happened was their secret. At that stage she could not understand
what was happening, but did not tell anyone because she was too scared. There were times when he would
indecently touch her every day at a number of locations around the home.
Every time he would tell her she was a "good girl". He attempted to rape her on
several occasions, but stopped when she told him he was hurting her. Another girl at the home
approached her one day, saying she knew what Gainsford was doing to the
witness and stating it was not allowed. About 10 minutes later she told
the girl what she had said was correct. The other child said they needed to
tell an adult and the pair went and told a staff member. Some time after that Gainsford
left the home. Gainsford would deny having ever
masturbated in front of children at the home, his counsel Paul Dacre told the
woman. "He's incorrect," she
replied. Gainsford would also deny other
allegations the woman had made. "I know what he did and I
know what he got me to do, so he can deny it as much as he likes." Asked if her memories could be
inaccurate, the woman replied "definitely not". The trial was adjourned early
yesterday afternoon as the closure of Wellington airport had delayed the
arrival of the crown's final witness. He is expected to give his
evidence this morning prior to Gainsford taking the stand. |
