A Christian Brother who preyed on vulnerable young boys will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was jailed on fresh charges.
John Laidlaw, 84, pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to indecently assaulting six boys between 1966 and 1990 while he was teaching at schools in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The court heard he abused his position of authority and breached the trust of his victims, whose ages ranged between 13 and 17.
"As their teacher, they were required to follow your directions and not question you," Judge Helen Syme told the court on Friday.
"In most cases, you were confident you wouldn't be apprehended or rebuffed."
Laidlaw repeatedly sought out boys in change rooms or instructed them to join him in secluded parts of the school.
He groped several of the teens, often instructing them to remove their clothing under the guise of assessing a sporting injury.
On one occasion in 1984, Laidlaw forced a 16-year-old boy to perform oral sex on him in the school shower block.
The court was told Laidlaw laughed at the distressed boy once the assault was over and threatened to take away his spot on the school's cricket team if he told anyone what happened.
The Christian brother also assaulted another one of his students in 1990 while the 17-year-old boy was injured and on crutches.
Laidlaw was first jailed in 2019 for abusing another six boys between 1963 and 1984.
At the time, the judge noted Laidlaw had supposedly been effective in managing his sexual attraction to children because he hadn't reoffended since 1984.
But Judge Syme said that clearly wasn't the case and Laidlaw still had not shown remorse for his crimes.
"For many years your victims were haunted by your offending ... you have enjoyed years untroubled by it," she said.
Judge Syme noted a 1973 report prepared by the Christian Brothers described Laidlaw as being psychologically unfit for his job.
The report also made references to improper conduct he had with two boys and further indiscretions he had with teenagers in Ballarat.
Judge Syme said it was clear the Christian Brothers were aware of Laidlaw's offending and yet they did nothing to protect the boys.
"Not only was nothing done, active steps were taken to shift you to different schools," she said.
"It is wrong that the victims of your offending blame themselves and place responsibility on themselves for your offending.
"The responsibility was yours and not theirs."
The judge accepted Laidlaw was now 84 and diagnosed with Parkinson's disease so jail was more burdensome for him.
She sentenced him to seven years and six months behind bars but he will be eligible for parole after three years.
The Christian Brothers have been approached by AAP for comment.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
