UPDATE: A former primary school teacher, Rodney Neville Watkins, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexually abusing multiple students between 1974 and 1983. The District Court of Western Australia delivered the verdict after a jury found him guilty of 14 child sex offences, which included harrowing victim impact statements detailing the profound suffering he inflicted.
Watkins, now 76, committed these crimes alongside his former partner, Robert Lefroy, who has since passed away. The court revealed that the pair operated a “sex dungeon” at their home in Mt Lawley, where they normalized sexual behavior around children, inviting at least two other pedophiles to witness their actions.
The abuse primarily involved four boys, some as young as nine, whom both men had direct access to as educators in the northern suburbs. Judge Craig Astill described the duo as “nothing less than predators,” emphasizing how they manipulated their positions of trust. “You used these children as your playthings,” the judge stated, highlighting the calculated nature of their crimes.
The testimony from victims painted a devastating picture of long-term trauma. One victim described the effects as “life-changing, permanent and catastrophic,” revealing years of self-blame and shame. Another shared an “endless cycle of self-abuse,” struggling to find forgiveness for himself.
In a shocking twist, defense attorney Max Crispe argued that Watkins was also a victim of Lefroy, who was his teacher and significantly older. Judge Astill did not address this claim directly, but noted the disturbing similarities in their abusive behaviors.
The crimes often occurred in the comfort of their home, with victims being offered alcohol and drugs. One particularly harrowing account involved a victim being raped in a tent on a school camp, while another crime was committed in public showers after Watkins misled a mother about sailing lessons.
Judge Astill condemned Watkins for his brazen actions, stating, “You fostered relationships with their parents so they would trust you.” The judge lamented the devastating impact on the victims’ lives, including struggles with education, employment, and personal relationships.
Watkins will be eligible for parole in 14 years, at which point he will be 90 years old. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence, even shaking his head as the judge spoke of his crimes.
This case serves as a grim reminder of the long-lasting effects of child abuse and the urgent need for continued vigilance and support for survivors. For those affected, resources such as Kid’s Helpline 1800 55 1800 and Sexual Assault Resource Centre 1800 199 888 are available for support.
