Ex-principal jailed for abusing boys

A former Wellington school principal was jailed for four years nine months today for abusing boys at Porirua's Corinna primary school in the 1970s.

Richard Joel, 62, was sentenced in the Wellington District Court after pleading guilty last month to 16 charges of indecent assault and inducing seven boys under 16 to do indecent acts.

The offending took place over a period of six years starting in 1970 on boys between the ages of 7 and 11.

Judge David Ongley called the offences "a systematic and ongoing sexual offence against young, venerable, trusting pupils".

He said there was a theme to the offences, as Joel created opportunities with the victims, including having them stay at his home.

Joel was given a starting point of seven years imprisonment, and received a one third credit for pleading guilty. Judge Ongley also took into account he had no previous convictions, and there had been no further offending in the last 35 years.

Joel worked in four Wellington schools over 38 years.

- NZPA