News Service from House Harris

NSW: Knox sex assault scandal deepens; third teacher charged

SYDNEY, Feb 24 AAP - The sex abuse scandal surrounding Sydney's elite Knox Grammar School has deepened, with a third teacher charged over historic offences against students.

Adrian Nisbett, 59, who taught English at the private school for three decades, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with sex offences against three boys between 1976 and 1990.

Two other teachers - one retired, and one current staff member - are already before the courts charged with sexual assaults on students in the 1980s.

Police have refused to confirm that allegations have been made against a fourth teacher.

Police do not believe the men charged so far acted together, although some alleged victims were common to all three.

Nisbett, of Wahroonga, faced Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday, where he was granted conditional bail on two counts of indecent assault on a male and two counts of assault and commit act of indecency.

He taught English at the northern Sydney school for 30 years. He no longer teaches there, but it's unclear if he has any enduring involvement with the school.

Detective Inspector Mick Banfield said the investigation by Strike Force Arika was ongoing.

"Obviously we're still investigating the possibility of further offences and offenders at the school," he told reporters.

He said the latest allegations related to three victims.

"They are three independent victims who haven't previously come forward," he said.

When Superintendent Shane White was asked if there were allegations against a fourth teacher, he told ABC Radio: "There is information that needs to be followed up".

"I just don't want to speculate on the nature of that at this stage."

Supt White said police had been told that the school, some years ago, had conducted its own investigation into the latest allegations.

"There may have been internal reports or inquiries conducted at the school on two prior occasions back in about 1990 and as recent as 2004," he said.

"What action, if any, flowed from those reports and inquiries and what information was elicited is not yet entirely clear, but of course will be investigated."

He said he could not confirm whether police were contacted about the allegations at the time.

Supt White said detectives had been chasing up a lot of information that had come in after publicity over the first arrests.

He declined to nominate how many people had come forward but said police did not believe the alleged perpetrators had acted together, although some victims were common to all three men.

"The courage of the initial victim or victims to come forward has seemed to empower others to come forward which is good to see," he said.

The school did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

But a letter circulated earlier in the day to former students offered them counselling.

"Any old boy who would like to talk to the school counsellors should call (the school)," Old Knox Grammarians Association president Ian Macpherson said in the letter, circulated by email to former pupils.

"The safety and wellbeing of students at Knox is of paramount importance and we are working closely with our counsellors and our community in this regard."

Mr Macpherson said the school first learnt of the investigation at the time of the initial arrest last week, and was cooperating fully with police.

"As the matters are now before the court the school is unable to respond in detail to any enquiry, or make comment on those matters," he wrote.

Last Wednesday, 71-year-old former teacher Barrie Tiffin Stewart appeared in Hornsby Local Court on four child-related sex offences between 1984 to 1987.

Current year six teacher Craig Treloar, 49, of Hornsby, was refused bail the day before over allegations he assaulted two students in 1986.

He is facing four charges of indecency and indecent assault relating to complaints made by two men who were aged 11 and 12 when the alleged offences took place in 1986.

Nisbett was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on April 7.

Police are urging anyone with information relevant to Strike Force Arika to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.