A former worker at Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre has been charged with multiple sexual offences, including child sexual abuse, after a long-running investigation by Tasmania Police.
The 64-year-old man is facing 11 counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and two counts of acts of indecency.
The charges relate to three victim-survivors and span nearly four decades.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams said the arrest was made by detectives from Taskforce Artemis after a detailed investigation.
“These charges have stemmed directly from matters that were investigated as a result of the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings,” she said.
“Some instances of abuse are alleged to have taken place between 1974 and 1982, while another instance of abuse is alleged to have occurred at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre between 1990 and 2021 while the man was an employee.”
Adams said Taskforce Artemis was set up specifically to investigate allegations raised during the inquiry and is using an “intelligence-led approach” to track down offenders.
“While it is acknowledged that offences of this nature are deeply disturbing, Tasmania Police strongly encourages anyone with information about any form of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, to come forward and report it,” Adams said.
As the matter is now before the courts, police have indicated that no further comment will be made.
The man will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on June 11.
Sexual assault support services:
Sexual Assault Support Service (Tasmania): 1800 697 877
1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732
Sexual Assault Counselling Australia: 1800 211 028
Bravehearts (support for child sexual abuse survivors): 1800 272 831
Laurel House Northern Tasmania: (03) 6334 2740
Laurel House North West Tasmania: (03) 6431 9711
Blue Knot Foundation: 1300 657 380
