A COURT has heard horrific details of the “gross breach of trust” by a paedophile teacher who kidnapped and sexually abused students, as his victims spoke publicly for the first time in an Armidale court.
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John G Ferris watched from the dock as seven of his eight victims read out powerful and emotional statements detailing the decades of torment they have endured at the hands of their then-teacher.
Cathryn James chose to speak publicly, waiving her right to court-ordered anony-mity, in the hope that others wouldn’t suffer in silence.
“There is no shame,” she told Armidale District Court.
“It’s never too late to get justice.”
Ms James told the court the flow-on effects to her family had been profound – like most of her fellow victims, and their children and partners who lived with their fears.
Each victim recounted what fear had driven them to do for their family.
Ms James detailed the extra measures she would take to protect her children “for fear that there would be another predator ... that would rob them of their innocence”.
In an emotional impact statement, Ms James said she had been emotionally scarred by her ordeal.
“I’ll never know who I could have been,” she told the court.
“That’s my sentence to live with forever.”
Ferris was employed at Ben Venue Public School in the 1960s and 1970s when he targeted young girls, sexually abusing them on school grounds, behind closed doors.
After hearing the statements, Ferris wrote a letter from the prison cells – which was read out in court – apologising for his abuse which spanned 12 years.
“All my life I knew what I was doing was wrong,” his solicitor read to the court.
“The shame belongs to me.
“I was unable to stop.
“I again apologise to the ladies ... I hope it brings them healing for their lives.”
Ferris remains bail-refused and will be sentenced in June.
