A former Drouin High School metalwork teacher will be sentenced in Melbourne's County Court on Thursday, May 16 after pleading guilty to seven charges of indecent assault against a former student.
John McLachlan, 81, of Northcote (formerly of Kraft St, Drouin), was a employed as a teacher at the secondary school from 1963 to 1992.
On Wednesday he appeared before Judge Anne Hassan to plead guilty to seven charges of indecent assault that occurred between 1978 and 1982.
The victim, who no longer lives locally, was a students aged between 11 and 14 at the time. The court heard the offending occurred in the high school's photographic dark room and at Mr McLachlan's residence.
On Wednesday the victim, 56, read his impact statement to the court, outlining the negative impacts the assaults had on him as a teenager and throughout his adult life.
He said the trauma had resulted in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. He also had repeated nightmares and difficulty maintaining employment.
"You chose to steal a young child's future," the victim said.