A SALESIAN priest who sexually abused a pupil at a Sunbury Catholic boarding school will serve just nine months in jail.
Judge Tim Wood told Michael Aulsebrook, 55, today he had committed a serious breach of trust when he groomed and then abused a 12-year-old boy at Rupertswood Salesian College in 1983.
In his sentence the judge revealed that in 1993 a complaint of the sex abuse of another child was made against Aulsebrook and he received counselling from his order but no criminal prosecution.
The Salesians then appointed Aulsebrook to the post of principal of St Mark's College in Port Pirie, South Australia, a post he held for nine years.
Judge Wood said when the victim went to Rupertswood his mother introduced him to Brother Michael, a decision that later made her feel guilty.
Aulsebrook groomed the boy by buying him treats from the tuck shop and over the next seven months took him into his room next to the dorm and sexually abused him.
He would make the victim sit on his knee, put his hands down his pants and fondle his penis and testicles and lay on top of him on the bed.
Judge Wood said the 12-year-old knew nothing about sex and was confused at the molestation.
Aulsebrook pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault and two of the charges were representative of a number of incidents.
In his County Court sentence Judge Wood said Aulsebrook told the boy "It's okay, it's a secret'' and "don't worry''.
Aulsebrook remained a friends with his victim's family, attended his wedding and the funeral of his brother.
The judge said the victim had a nervous breakdown in 2000 and said he had been molested but his family did not believe him at first.
Judge Wood said Aulsebrook was remorseful and felt a deep sense of shame at his “flawed morals”.
He jailed him for a total of two years but suspended 15 months of the sentence for two years.
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