Victorian county court judge says 76-year-old is likely to die in jail, and he was ‘blown away’ that his legal fees were paid by the Catholic church

The hypocrisy of the notorious paedophile and Christian Brother Robert Best was “breathtaking and gobsmacking”, exacerbated by his religious affiliation, a judge has said while telling the 76-year-old it was likely he would die in jail.

Victorian county court judge Geoffrey Chettle told Best it was hard not get angry about his abuse, and said he was “blown away” by the fact that his legal fees were still being paid by the Catholic church.



Best pleaded guilty to a further 24 counts of indecent assault on boys aged between eight and 11 years. He molested them between 1968 and 1988 while teaching at St Alipius primary school in Ballarat, St Leo’s college in Box Hill and St Joseph’s college, Geelong.

He is already serving 14 years and nine months jail for sex offences against 11 boys over a 20-year period.



“We’re talking realistic prospects that he will die in jail,” Chettle told Monday’s plea hearing, adding: “He’s still being funded by the church. I’ll just say that blows me away.”

It’s understood that the Christian Brothers Oceania Province has paid more than $1m in Best’s legal fees over the years. Since 1996, six juries have convicted Best of sexual assaults against young boys.

He indecently assaulted some in a school’s sick bay. He would “check on the boys”, feeling their foreheads before putting his hand down their shorts, the court heard.

Best molested one student during choir practice in the presence of other children. He comforted several of his victims when they started crying by saying “you’re OK” and that everything was all right.

On other occasions, Best asked the boys “not to tell anyone what happened”, prosecutor Peter Rose QC said.



Most of the abuse took place in Best’s office. One student was summoned there, arriving to find Best with his penis exposed.

“I hate Robert Best,” one man said in his victim impact statement. “He disgusts me. He is a worthless predator of vulnerable children he had a duty to protect.”



Another said he cannot forget how Best told him that he was “special” before abusing him. “He just gets charged for the moments of his gratification and not the lives he destroyed,” the man said.

The judge said Best’s offending was exacerbated by his religious affiliation. “The hypocrisy is breathtaking. It’s just gobsmacking,” he said.

“This is ongoing regular abuse of children over 20 years by a man who purports to be their pastoral carer. It’s hard not to get angry and I’m trying not to be.”



After the hearing, the Christian Brothers issued a statement expressing their “profound sorrow and enduring regret” for Best’s crimes.



“The Christian Brothers hope that those who have suffered as a result of the abuse perpetrated by Robert Best find some peace and justice in today’s outcome,” it said.



Best will be sentenced on 2 March.