Molested students reveal betrayal

Another boy has described how he felt he "could never be happy again" after being abused by someone he thought had cared about him.

Cameron Tweeddale Smith worked as a first-aid attendant at Brighton Grammar School between 2002 and 2007. He also was a volunteer with St John Ambulance and ran the school's program with the service.

The 26-year-old, from Sandringham, pleaded guilty yesterday in the Victorian County Court to 11 charges, including six of committing an indecent act in the presence of a child under 16, and two of committing an indecent act in the presence of a child under 16 while under care or supervision.

Outlining the case, Crown prosecutor Claire Quin said that between January 2004 and August 2008, Smith had offended against eight victims.

Ms Quin said Smith, who was involved in the school's football, cricket and hockey teams, had treated some of the boys for sports injuries and told them his methods would be more effective if they removed their pants and underpants. She said Smith then indecently assaulted them.

She also said Smith took two boys to his parents' holiday house in Sorrento, asked them what alcohol they wanted him to buy for them and suggested a prostitute be hired. One of the boys was assaulted after Smith showed him pornography, but the other became ill because of the amount of alcohol he drank.

Smith had been hired by one family as a babysitter when he molested their son, as a maths tutor when he indecently assaulted another, and molested a third before taking him to football training, Ms Quin said. Other assaults occurred when Smith and the boys worked as St John volunteers at the Australian Open tennis and AFL matches.

Smith's offending continued after he left the school, she said.

One boy said in a victim impact statement that "the eventual betrayal of trust has made me reluctant to trust any professionals".

The mother of another boy said: "When my son first told me . . . my first thoughts were of shock. He was at school, where I expected him to feel safe . . . He blames himself for what happened to the other boys [and] felt he may have prevented it if he had reported it sooner."

Her son, who was angry at the school for hiring Smith, said it was "hard to feel happy" and "didn't feel he could be happy again".

"I trusted him and thought he cared about me," the boy said in his statement.

Another victim said he was "having difficulty coming to terms with the conduct of the school . . . At no time did I get an apology for what happened. I trusted in the system."

One boy, who described Smith as a one-time friend, expressed hope that Smith would be rehabilitated.

"Treating Cameron as a monster does not serve to protect children when he is free."

The hearing before Judge Sue Pullen resumes today, when the defence response is likely to be heard.