Dentist who used hypnosis to sexually abuse young boys jailed

A former dentist who used hypnosis to help him sexually abuse four young boys has been sentenced to at least eight years jail. 

Werner Otto Schwarz, 82, was a well-respected member of the Armidale community in Northern NSW and his status helped him get away with his crimes for decades. 

But last year, a jury found him guilty of 17 offences against four boys under the age of 16 between 1981 and 1984. 

Phil Wright, one of Schwarz's victims, spoke of his relief at the sentencing.

"Our families are relieved," Mr Wright said.

"This has been an ordeal that was brought on by some criminal pedophiles. There is nothing more heinous than a crime on a child."

"I trust that justice will prevail in all of these matters. All we can do is trust the courts."

Schwarz was trained in hypnosis and used it to relax his dental patients.

But the court heard today that he also used the therapy on his young male victims, directing them under hypnosis to forget what had happened to them. But they didn't.

"Each of the complainants has carried the disgust and memory of the methodical sexual abuse inflicted by the offender," Judge Helen Syme said today.

"They also retain ghostly memories of peripheral details such as his breath odour. Those memories remained with them for nearly 35 years even though they rarely spoke of them."

Judge Syme said Schwarz systematically sexually abused the four boys over the course of about four years.

They did not come forward with the abuse until 2013 as adults. 

Judge Syme also spoke of her surprise that the victims related stories of a community backlash against them for coming forward.

She said it was "a very sad reflection that some members of the community still wish to punish victims of this obscene behaviour for daring to complain about it. It is precisely attitudes like this that allowed such evil behaviour to exist and complaints to be discouraged. I hope all members of the community are now better educated about these important issues, and no longer tolerate or choose to ignore the sexual abuse of children, either currently or historically." 

Judge Syme believes many of the witnesses were too intimidated by Schwarz's status in the community to complain, thinking they would not be believed.

The former dentist was awarded the Australian Government honour of a Sports Medal in 2000 for services to sporting groups - an honour his victims want him stripped of.

Schwarz will be 90 years old by the time he is eligible for parole.