Dilworth School child sex offender to spend at least 6 months more in prison
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
A survivor of Dilworth School’s former assistant principal has told the Parole Board he knows of at least two other survivors yet to come forward to police.
Ian Robert Wilson was initially sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for sexually abusing boys in his care between the 1970s and 1990s.
While he was in prison, a further five men came forward. He eventually admitted more offending and had a year and 11 months added to his sentence, bringing the total to five-and-a-half years.
On Wednesday, Wilson appeared before the Parole Board where his bid for an early release was rejected for the third time.
Judge Eddie Paul asked Wilson if there were yet further victims to come forward.
Wilson answered: “Not that I’m aware of… it’s always a possibility…”.
Judge Paul reminded the 72-year-old he’d now been sentenced three times for sexual offending against Dilworth schoolboys.
The Judge told Wilson he was aware his time at Dilworth spanned decades and in that time, he would have come into contact with many boys.
“I’m just concerned that cycle will repeat itself but you’re assuring me that it wont.”
Again, Wilson asnwered “As far as I know…”
Wilson’s lawyer Mark Edgar told the board his client had cooperated with the Dilworth Inquiry and police. He had also undergone 12 one-on-one sessions with a psychologist.
He said while the board may look to impose a condition not to be around children, Wilson wanted to attend church and the local library.
Wilson told the board he had two people on the outside who had pledged to support him. One of them was linked to the hearing by audio-visual link and also answered questions from Judge Paul.
Wilson confirmed neither of the support people had seen court documents relating to his offending and relied on his account of his sexual abuse of children.
Wilson said he wasn’t able to provide his supporters with documents because he was in prison.
Judge Paul was not impressed.
“With respect, that’s a bit weak,” Judge Paul said. He told Wilson he could have instructed his lawyer to provide the documents or invite his supporters to see the documents when they visited him in prison.
A Corrections officer told the board Wilson was “compliant and respectful” and had taken a leading role with a kapa haka group.
Board member Materoa Dodd asked Wilson if he had ever thought of the harm he had caused to the victims of his offending. Wilson said he thought of them everyday.
Wilson was asked if he still had a “tendency” for pre-pubescent boys.
He said he was still “dealing” with it but would make sure he was not in a situation where he was around young people.
In response to a question from another board member, Carolina Tiumalu, Wilson said he “noticed” boys on television.
“But I can control it by turning away or changing channels or whatever… a bit like an alcoholic deals with the question of another drink, I suppose.”
After a few minutes of deliberations, the board members returned with Judge Paul announcing: “It will be a no to parole today”.
Judge Paul said the board required a further psychologist’s report to review Wilson’s treatment and ongoing risk. He said the board also wanted a review of the release proposal and safety plan.
He also urged Wilson to expand his network of supporters on the outside.
Wilson will be back before the board in August.
Neil Harding was a student at Dilworth when Wilson sexually abused him. For the third time he has addressed the board, urging them not to grant parole.
Harding, who has taken the rare step of having his automatic name suppression lifted, addressed the Board on Tuesday.
Stuff has seen his submission. Harding told the board he was aware of further survivors who were yet to approach police.
He said Wilson had spent a lifetime convincing people he was “trustworthy” but that had all been a lie.
“He is the opposite, a master manipulator, a sexual deviant who preys on children, a sadist, an opportunist, and to this day, he creates strategies that only serve him.”
Harding said he is sure Wilson will tell the board he is “rehabilitated”, a changed man.
“There are no little boys in prison to test if he is safe,” Harding said.
He reminded the board that Wilson was given discounts off his sentence for his early guilty plea, age and health issues.
“As a survivor, it is difficult to play the role of supplicant again and again in order to keep him in prison. Each time, I am forced to revisit my own trauma.
“I get no discounts from the damage he has caused me… and nor should he.”
At a Parole Board hearing in June 2022, Wilson faced a barrage of questions about whether there were further survivors to come forward.
There was a long pause and an exhale of breath before Wilson answered. “Well, not that I’m aware of.”
But there were.
Days later Stuff reported further survivors had come forward and Wilson eventually faced charges relating to five more boys.
He has since admitted the further offending and had time added to his sentence.
Wilson was a history teacher and is fluent in te reo Māori. He was also a house master and a Scout leader and would regularly take boys away on Scouting trips.
Court documents released to Stuff show Wilson also attended “Group Life Lab” camps, organised by the school’s former reverend Ross Douglas Browne.
“The boys chosen to attend were usually the most vulnerable, based on their adverse life experiences,” the agreed summary of facts stated.
Both Brown and Wilson used the camps to sexually abuse boys.
Wilson’s offending stretches back to the beginning of his career when he was a house tutor. He would take boys on trips to his family’s property at Dargaville and sexually abuse them.
He also abused boys on Scout camps and weekends away from the boarding school.
Other offending took place at his home, on Dilworth School grounds, and in the boarding school dormitory when he was a housemaster.
The court documents show Wilson sexually abused one boy who he found in the school’s sick bay where Wilson’s wife worked as a nurse.
Wilson was first convicted in 1997. He was fined $3500.
But his name and connection to Dilworth were suppressed by a District Court judge.
Armed with a glowing reference from former Dilworth headmaster Murray Wilton, Wilson was able to later land a job with the Manukau Institute of Technology, where he continued to teach young people.
Sexual violence: Where to get help
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00, click link for local helplines.
Victim Support 0800 842 846.
Safetalk text 4334, phone 0800 044 334 webchat safetotalk.nz or email support@safetotalk.nz.
The Harbour Online support and information for people affected by sexual abuse.
Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843
Male Survivors Aotearoa Helplines across NZ, click to find out more (males only).
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
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