Australian Naturopath Jailed for Sex Crimes and a Former Priest Pleads Guilty to Child Sex

Perversions in avowedly noble callings are perhaps becoming the order of the day. A Melbourne naturopath jailed for 16 years for sex crimes while an ex-priest has pleaded guilty to child sex.

Fifty-three-year-old Michael Wilson inappropriately massaged 13 female patients including two children over an 18 year period at his clinics in the Melbourne suburbs of Prahran and Blackburn.

Wilson was found guilty in May of 22 counts of indecent assault, 11 of rape and one each of sexual penetration of a child under 16 and committing an indecent act with a child under 16.

His victims were all women who sought naturopathic and massage treatment at his practices in Mont Albert and Prahran between 1987 and 2006.

In sentencing, County Court Judge Liz Gaynor said Wilson is a callous, self-centred sexual abuser, who was so arrogant his actions continued even after complaints were made.

"I can only regard each of your victim as vulnerable females on who you preyed on remorselessly," she said.

Outside court, Detective Sergeant Eddie Logonder said Wilson was a serious sexual predator.

"I'd consider Michael Wilson one of the worst sex offenders I've come across," he said.

He must serve at least 12 years in prison.

In the other incident, a former priest who kept slow-motion footage of a boy masturbating among his child-porn stash has been held in custody before being sentenced next month.

Edmund John Haines, 62, has pleaded guilty to six counts of an indecent act with a child under 16, procurement of a minor for child pornography and possessing child porn.

The crimes, involving two boys, occurred in the Victorian towns of Bannockburn, Winchelsea and Geelong between March 2006 and February 2008.

Geelong County Court on Thursday was told Haines started to shower lollies and magazines on one of his 15-year-old victims in 2006.

Soon after, he removed the boy's pants to capture images on a mobile phone and fondle his genitals.

Haines also harassed the boy to provide him with topless images of himself.

On another occasion Haines asked the same boy to masturbate on a bed while he left the room, later returning to capture images on his mobile phone.

After this incident he gave the boy a radio Esky as a gift.

The court was told Haines also allegedly grabbed both of the victims on the backside.

The defendant was arrested in February when he gave his old phone to a parishioner which still contained images of one of the victims.

He was found with 30 child porn images in his possession.

Brian Bourke, appearing for Haines, called four character witnesses who described a respected man devoted to the Catholic church.

Friend and former colleague Dr Kevin Yelberton told court Haines constantly expressed his remorse in their daily phone conversations.

"He uses language like, 'I've been a bloody idiot, I've ruined everything, I've ruined the parish',".

Dr Yelberton said the defendant had no interests outside the church and believed he would not pose a further risk to the community.

Another witness Patricia Colla said Haines was beloved in the small Meredith community where he lived at the time, and reports of his sexual perversions were "not at all the man we know."

But Judge Geoffrey Chettle said Haines' standing in the community highlighted the extent of the "gross breach of trust".

Haines had "no sexual experience at all" because of the sexual "prohibition" imposed upon Catholic priests, Mr Bourke said.

And he urged the judge to take into account the "stress and strain these people (priests) are under for years and years".

Haines will remain in custody until sentencing on November 4. f

Source-Medindia
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