THE sign on the school gates of the elite Knox Grammar unwittingly spoke volumes about the paedophile vice-principal: “He touched us all,” it read.

The embarrassed school had to remove the sign on its Cleveland St gates after it learned the late art teacher Bruce Barrett had sexually abused students, as revealed yesterday in the child sex abuse royal commission.

media_camera Former Knox student Scott Ashton with lawyer Leigh Johnson (right) and friend Gretel Pinniger outside Governor Macquarie Tower. Picture: Ross Schultz

The commission also heard how former headmaster Dr Ian Paterson, known among pupils as “The Snake”, gave teacher Damian Vance a reference despite sacking him after he indecently assaulted a pupil and hit two others.

Dr Paterson is expected to give evidence during the ­investigation into how Knox Grammar covered up 33 years of sex abuse by teachers. Vance, 60, was one of five teachers convicted of sex abuse and was released on a good behaviour bond.

After leaving Knox in 1989, he taught for another 10 years in other schools ­before he was charged.

media_camera Bondage and discipline queen Gretel Pinninger aka Madame Lash. media_camera Bondage and discipline queen Gretel Pinninger aka Madame Lash.

Barrett victim Scott Ashton told the commission how he had to attend Barrett’s ­funeral in the school chapel when he was in Year 6 and had been confused by the ­eulogies and the tributes.

“The fact he was so well regarded by the school ­despite being a notorious molester made me feel very confused and powerless,” Mr Ashton, 44, said.

Barrett, vice-principal of the junior school and a boarding house master, was a “strange man” and a brutal caner who wore a red tie and would say: “Watch out boys, it’s a red tie day.”

media_camera Knox Grammar has come under fire at the Royal Commission.

Mr Ashton said that meant there was likely to be some trouble and a caning.

He said Barrett liked to tickle the students and once asked him to stay behind after chasing him around the art classroom to tickle him.

“At first I thought I was in trouble and was relieved to be tickled and not caned, but then the situation deteriorated for me,” Mr Ashton said.

He was sexually abused by Barrett and another teacher, Barrie Stewart.

Mr Ashton said his abuse ruined his life and he went into a spiral of sex work, at one time working at the ­notorious Hellfire Club, which specialised in bondage.

His statement was read to the commission in Sydney by friend Gretel Pinniger, better known as the dominatrix Madam Lash.

It was to her Mr Ashton revealed he had been a victim of sexual abuse and she has become a personal friend.

media_camera Justice Coate (left) and Commissioner Atkinson at the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse‘s public hearing into Knox Grammar School. Picture: Jeremy Piper

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