Former Sydney Christian school teacher accused of sexual abuse

As a Brother at the prestigious Riverview College in Sydney, Victor Higgs was supposed to be teaching the sons of some of Australia's wealthiest families.

But instead, police allege he was sexually abusing them. 

Higgs, 81, is accused of repeatedly indecently assaulting six teenage boys at the school between 1972 and 1980.

The crown counsel Sean Grant told his District Court trial this was: "Not the kind of conduct you would expect from a Christian man." 

The jury heard the brother would summon boys into his office, a bedroom, or other private locations at the school, and at a beach house at Gerroa on the NSW south coast, where he would allegedly make them strip and perform sexual acts on them. 

In one case he is accused of sexually abusing a boy before telling him: "Don't mention this to anyone. This is between you and me."

The jury heard that Higgs has a history of abusing children, and that he pleaded guilty to interfering with two children at a school in South Australia back in the late 1960's and 70's.

Higgs' defence lawyer says these new alleged victims may be accusing the wrong teacher. 

"Your memory, because it is so long ago, may be mistaken or confused," he said.

To which one alleged victim replied: "You don't mistake or confuse that".