There must have been a sense of relief from all affected by the disgusting behaviour of former school teacher Charles Harter when he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting his female students.
The relief would have been because an early guilty plea by the 63-year-old former Havelock North Primary School teacher meant his innocent young victims did not have to go through the horror of testifying at his trial.
Harter was a music, mathematics and drama teacher who taught students from his home studio and, between October 2012 and June 2014, also taught music and drama at the primary school.
He has admitted nine counts of indecent assaults against nine young girls aged 7 to 12. He inappropriately touched his students over and under their school uniforms.
This case must have been a nightmare for the children, parents and the school. Credit must go to those brave little girls who had the courage to tell adults what Harter was doing to them. The school also deserves praise for applying to the court for name suppression to be lifted so people would know who Harter was.
