Sam Leishman was only 12 years old when sexual abuse began at the hands of his teacher at New Town High School in Hobart in 1978.
Key points:
- Sam Leishman was sexually abused by Darrel George Harington, who is now in jail.
- Documents from the Department of Education showed numerous complaints were made about Harrington
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It is alleged Tasmania’s Education Department protected up to ten child-molesting teachers
“I had a very difficult time at school when the other kids, my peers, found out about it,” he said.
“Teachers, I suspect, had an idea of what was going on as well.”
With the abuse beginning at the end of grade seven and continuing into grade eight, Mr Leishman thought he was the only one being targeted by his teacher.
Unfortunately, he was wrong.
Darrel George Harington, 68, has since been jailed for the sexual abuse of boys in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
“It’s pretty horrifying, yes, and I’ve been naive about the whole thing,” Mr Leishman said.
Documents from the Department o