Former teacher Rodney Neville Watkins guilty of sexually abusing boys in Perth
Rodney Neville Watkins is on trial accused of sexually assaulting boys in the 1970s and 80s. (ABC News: David Weber)
A former teacher who sexually abused primary school-aged boys in Perth, and one on Rottnest Island, in the 1970s in 1980s has been found guilty of multiple charges.
WARNING: This story contains details of sexual abuse that readers may find distressing.
Rodney Neville Watkins, 76, has been on trial in the WA District Court on 14 charges of indecent dealing, accused of abusing four boys.
He was found guilty of all charges.
The court had been told Watkins and his partner Robert Lefroy, who was also a teacher and is now deceased, had abused boys at the schools where they taught and in their shared home in Perth, among other places.
One boy was abused after Watkins had taken him out on a boat on the Swan River, while another was assaulted by both men in a tent at popular holiday destination Rottnest Island.
The four victims did not know each other and most gave evidence to the trial via videolink.
One of the incidents of abuse took place during a trip to Rottnest Island, the court heard. (ABC News: Benjamin Gubana)
The first victim, now in his 50s, told the court how Watkins touched him in the school library.
He said he visited Watkins' home, used the pool and the sauna with the two men, was given alcohol and smoked hashish in what the teacher called "the happy pipe".
He was then sexually abused by Watkins.
Watkins had also taken him sailing on the Swan River, he told the court, then further abused him in the shower block at Nedlands Yacht Club.
Emotional testimony
The second victim, who is now in his 60s, took the stand in the courtroom.
He was taught by Watkins' partner Lefroy at a different school, and broke down as he described the abuse he endured, including being touched and then slapped across the face by Lefroy as he tried to get away.
He met Watkins when the two teachers took him to their house, where he was forced to engage in sexual activities, he said.
He was nine years old at the time.
A number of the men became emotional as they gave evidence during the trial. (ABC News: Jack Stevenson)
The third victim was also a student at Lefroy's school, and also became emotional several times while giving evidence.
He told the court how Lefroy had put his hand on his groin, and hit him.
"I wet myself," he told the court.
During an excursion to Rottnest Island with both teachers, he detailed how the men encouraged him to take his bathers off while swimming and abused him.
He described how he was woken from his sleep in his tent and sexually assaulted by the men, one after the other, leaving him with a painful injury.
He was aged 10 years old at the time.
Victim felt 'disgusted'
The fourth victim, also aged 10 at the time, told the court how Watkins and Lefroy would shower together at their house while he was present, and he was given erotic magazines to look at.
He said Watkins and Lefroy had sexually assaulted him together, leaving him feeling "disgusted".
On one occasion, there were two other men at the house who he didn't know, and Watkins told him they may want to "join in".
Watkins had denied all of the alleged sexual activity with the boys.
He showed no reaction as he stood to hear the verdicts read out by the foreperson.
He was remanded in custody and is due to face a sentencing hearing in November.
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