A former primary school teacher who abused 38 of his students at several country Victorian schools has been sentenced to 12 years in jail.

Key points: The former teacher abused his victims repeatedly, and in front of other students, between 1960–1992

The former teacher abused his victims repeatedly, and in front of other students, between 1960–1992 He was moved between schools in regional Victoria, even after complaints about the abuse

He was moved between schools in regional Victoria, even after complaints about the abuse A lawyer for many of the victims said they were planning to sue the Victorian Department of Education

Vincent Henry Reynolds' victims were aged as young as five. They were abused at schools in central and north-eastern Victoria over a period of more than 30 years.

Reynolds, now 78, was 19 years old when he targeted his first victim, and 50 when he committed his last offence.

As the sentence was handed down, one of his victims yelled: "I hope you rot in there slowly, buddy."

Judge Gabriele Cannon said Reynolds' "brazen" offending was committed in front of other students and included touching them on top of and underneath their clothes.

"You were supposed to be their teacher, someone who was supposed to help them flourish and help develop a love of learning," Judge Cannon said.

"Instead you defiled them, one after another, time and time again."

Some of the victims did not tell anyone about the abuse for many years and on one occasion he "swore a child to silence", Judge Cannon said.

"You exploited the fact that you had power over these children in order to offend against them."

The judge said several children were not believed when they complained.

Brian Jackson was at the County Court to see his abuser sentenced. ( ABC News: James Hancock )

"He's ruined our lives," said Brian Jackson, who was eight years old when Reynolds assaulted him.

"To be quite honest, I probably haven't dealt with it until just recently — you sort of bury it," he told the ABC outside court.

'Catastrophic failures' enabled Reynolds to offend

Judge Cannon said a parent first warned Reynolds to stop his behaviour in 1960.

In 1980, another parent complained about Reynolds, and the teacher was seen by a psychiatrist on behalf of the education department.

"You were told by the psychiatrist that you were required to see that if you went back into the classroom you would continue to offend," Judge Cannon said.

"You chose to go back, and you kept offending against your pupils for about 10 more years."

Judge Cannon said Reynolds told police that the assistant director of teaching allowed him back into the classroom because "no charges had been laid" by police.

"Extraordinarily, in 1981 you returned to teaching," she said.

The court heard Reynolds told police that the department's psychologist was shocked by the decision and said: "It was absolutely bloody stupid sending you back to the classroom because you will just keep on doing it."

"Sadly, he was correct," Judge Cannon said.

Reynolds was promoted to vice-principal of one of the schools in 1988.

In the same year, another parent made allegations of indecent assault against Reynolds.

The education department investigated the complaint but "no action appeared to have been taken against you", Judge Cannon said.

Then, in 1992, a further allegation of indecent assault prompted police to take action.

The court heard that, later the same year, Reynolds pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting 14 boys at five schools between 1968 and 1992 and was fined $16,000.

"Even then, you were only dealt with for some of the children you had offended against, largely on the basis of the admissions that you made to police, as I understand the position," Judge Cannon said.

"However, this finally ended your access to children in the classroom, albeit that you were only punished by way of a fine in respect of fourteen complainants."

He never returned to teaching.

Victims plan to sue Department of Education

Judge Cannon said Reynolds, a married father of three adult children, still had the support of his family.

He was himself sexually abused as a boy and adolescent, including by some of his own teachers.

The judge said in recent years he had lived like a hermit at home and had sought psychological help.

Reynolds can apply for release on parole after serving nine years, but Judge Cannon said his age meant he might die behind bars.

Lawyer Michael Magazanik likened Reynolds to paedophile priests. ( ABC News: James Hancock )

Many of the victims were disappointed with the sentence, which factored in his guilty plea, with one victim at court saying: "What a joke."

"You feel a bit let down by the justice system," Mr Jackson said.

"It was disappointing in a way but great in a way too.

"He's not out on the street, he's not going home tonight, which is good."

Lawyer Michael Magazanik, who represented most of the victims, said some of his clients were planning to sue the Victorian Department of Education.

"It is right up there with the worst excesses of the Catholic Church, a paedophile priest shuffled from parish to parish — Reynolds was a teacher shuffled from school to school," Mr Magazanik said outside court.

Reynolds will be a registered sex offender for life.

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