The Victorian County Court has been told the Catholic Church allowed a
Victorian brother to continue to teach, despite being aware he molested
at least one young student.
Michael Aulsebrook was Monday jailed for two years after pleading guilty to several counts of indecent assault.
The 55-year-old was a teacher at a school in Sunbury when he preyed on the 12-year-old student in the early 1980s.
Classmates interrupted the abuse on more than one occasion when they came looking for the victim.
He was frightened and told them he had been in trouble.
The court heard Aulsebrook was a friend of his victim's parents and continued to socialise with the family.
He even attended the victim's wedding and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1997.
The church became aware of his offending and offered him a place in a church counselling program.
Sentencing
Judge Tim Wood described the program as being for "those struggling
with psycho-sexual issues," with a history of crossing "sexual
boundaries" to help them confront their "unhealthy" habits.
Judge
Wood noted that after the one-year course, the church allowed
Aulsebrook to continue teaching by moving him to schools in South
Australia.
The court heard his own lawyer conceded his offending was not isolated.
Judge
Wood told Aulsebrook there were several aggravating features of his
case, including a gross breach of trust, his exploitation and lack of
insight.
Representatives of the church gave character evidence for him and were in court today to show their support.
Aulsebrook will serve nine months of his sentence.
The remaining 15 months is suspended.