Alistair Harlow, 61, is one of 11 men charged in relation to historical alleged offending at Dilworth School. Photo / Alex Burton
Alistair Harlow, 61, is one of 11 men charged in relation to historical alleged offending at Dilworth School. Photo / Alex Burton
A man involved in Dilworth School's former Scouts group has admitted to sexual abuse against boys during the 1980s and 1990s.
Alister Grant Harlow is one of 11 men charged in relation to historical sexual abuse at the school under the police's Operation Beverly, in which more than 150 former students have come forward.
Harlow, 61, appeared at Auckland District Court this morning for arraignment.
He pleaded guilty to three representative charges.
He admitted to indecent assault against a boy aged between 12 and 16 years between January 1, 1987, and September 1, 1988.
He stood quietly in the dock, moving his hands in front and behind of his back, showing no emotion.
Harlow was associate housemaster of Erin house at the time of the offending.
The three charges relate to offending against one student during his time at Dilworth School in the 1980s and after he left.
The abuse began after he attended a Scout camp while Harlow was an official Scout leader, court documents reveal.
Harlow arranged overnight camping trips – where he and the student would be alone - in the months following. They would share a tent and he would cuddle and touch the boy, at one point saying he "made a good pillow".
The boy was "uncomfortable with the unwanted touching" but felt he could not complain or object because of the "imbalance of power", the summary of facts said.
Dilworth School is in Epsom, Auckland. Photo / Dean Purcell
The same type of behaviour continued when Harlow arranged for the boy to stay overnight at his home during weekends and holidays.
During this period Harlow administered a caning to the boy, who was left "feeling completely powerless and unable to resist". Harlow was about 28 years old at the time.
The abuse led the student to have suicidal thoughts.
The now-teenager had left school and was living away from Auckland. Harlow visited him and abused him during the night he stayed over.
"As Harlow became more physically insistent [the victim] summoned the courage to challenge Harlow, asking what he was doing. At this point Harlow stopped and made no further attempts to touch [him]," court documents said.
The next year Harlow arranged for the teenager to carry out work on a family property. He pitched a tent "on a remote part of the property" and with no other option to get home the victim was forced to stay the night.
Harlow abused him again that night.
According to Dilworth's staff records, Harlow was an assistant housemaster of Erin house in 1985 and 1986 before becoming the associate housemaster between 1987 and 1992. He was then the assistant housemaster of the junior campus' Gibson House in 1993 and 1994.
Although 11 former staff members - including tutors, house and scoutmasters and a priest - have been charged as part of the inquiry, the Herald revealed in December that the real number of people who allegedly abused students is far higher, and many were pupils themselves.
Detective Senior Sergeant Geoff Baber said there have been 14 allegations of "student on student" offending reported as part of the investigation, which is known as Operation Beverly.
Harlow was more recently involved with the Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre before he voluntarily stood down.
He spent hours volunteering behind the till on weekends and preparing the trust's applications for funding.
"He's been involved in the trust, probably for over 20 years, and his contribution has been immense ... he's been very very effective in his role," the centre manager Keith Woodley told the Herald at the time of Harlow's charges being laid.
The centre didn't have any complaints about Harlow during his time there.
Harlow had also been heavily involved in the infrastructure training industry. He was the executive director of the New Zealand Roadmarkers Federation, which represents the country's roadmarkers and provides information and training for the industry, until resigning suddenly on September 25.
Alister Harlow was the head of the NZ Roadmarking Federation. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
Where to get help:
• If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111. • If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline Safe to Talk on: 0800 044 334 or text 4334. (available 24/7) • Male Survivors Aotearoa offers a range of confidential support at centres across New Zealand - find your closest one here. • Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata: 0800 94 22 94 (available 11am - 8pm) • Alternatively contact your local police station • If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.
