Dilworth School sex abuse investigation: Former vicar Ross Douglas Browne pleads guilty
A former vicar arrested in Dilworth School sexual abuse investigations has pleaded guilty to 15 sexual abuse charges.
Ross Douglas Browne abused some of the school's most vulnerable boys, but after his arrest, he denied the charges for months. His admissions of guilt were made today, a year after he resigned as Anglican vicar of Manurewa Parish.
A member of the Dilworth community said the guilty pleas were a major vindication for abuse victims.
"I'm happy that the voices of those that have spoken up have been heard and vindicated," he said after the former chaplain admitted the offending.
"To me, it's a start. Finally, they have been heard."
Browne, 73, admitted offending against boys from 1987 to 2004 and also admitted to possessing objectionable material in 2020. Police said he had 15 objectionable images.
At the High Court in Auckland today, he was convicted of all 16 charges he admitted. Seven other charges were withdrawn.
Browne pleaded guilty to 13 indecent assault charges. The victims were boys, in most cases aged 12-16 at the time of the offending.
He also admitted a later 1980s charge of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
Another crime he pleaded guilty to was inducing or permitting a boy aged under 12 to do an indecent act in 1994.
Today's arraignment for Browne happened soon after the Herald revealed the Dilworth Trust Board was consulting on compensation for victims.
Browne is on bail and will be sentenced on December 2.
Browne was also involved in Scouts and amateur theatrical company the Auckland Gang Show.
In January, Browne denied 15 charges, most of which were allegations of indecent assault on a boy.
In June, he appeared on new charges including sexual violation, indecent assault and objectionable publication charges at Auckland District Court and no plea was entered.
A member of the public at the June hearing yelled out in court, referring to a complainant and telling Brown: "[He] is no longer your victim".
The police investigation, Operation Beverly, started in April 2020 and has led to multiple arrests and dozens of complainants emerging.
Some of the alleged offenders have died, including Rex Clarence McIntosh, who died in May while awaiting trial.
Richard Charles Galloway died in November last year, aged 69, after earlier being diagnosed with cancer.
Chaplain's abuse
Browne was appointed chaplain at Dilworth School in October 1979, responsible for religious education.
He was asked to establish a social counselling programme, according to the court summary of facts.
Browne set up what were termed Relationship Awareness Labs, later known as Group
Life Labs and later Growth and Leadership Labs.
"These were a 1980s Anglican Church style, processing environment conducted over four days whereby Mr Browne was the facilitator and person in charge," the summary added.
"The boys were taken to a residential facility in Huia. The majority of the boys who attended were the most vulnerable, based on their adverse life experiences."
In 1994, Browne started what were termed Christian Living Classes. These ran until 1998, when a series of complaints ended the classes.
"During the Christian Living Classes, Mr Browne deviated from the curriculum
and exceeded what was proper for pre-pubertal boys," the summary added.
Inside school grounds, Browne also groomed children, identifying those he thought were gay.
He indecently assaulted multiple boys. One of his victims alerted a housemaster called Ian Wilson - but Wilson was also a sexual offender.
The boy who complained was then ostracised by Browne.
Some of his victims were less than 12 years old at the time of offending.
"None of the complainants suffered physical injuries [but] the psychological impact has been immense," the summary of facts added.
"The psychological damage for many has been irreparable."
Where to get help:
Dilworth Trust Board chairman Aaron Snodgrass has encouraged Old Boys to contact the school if they need support, by emailing aaron@dilworth.school.nz
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): be 04 801 6655 - 0
Safe to talk: a 24/7 confidential helpline for survivors, support people and those with harmful sexual behaviour: 0800044334.
Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata Peer support for males who have experienced trauma and sexual abuse: 0800 94 22 94
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.