A retired teacher has been sentenced to 12 months' prison, wholly suspended, for sexually assaulting a boy on a week-long school excursion.

Key points: Phillip Douglas Hazeldine assaulted the boy while he was a special education teacher in Sale, Victoria

Phillip Douglas Hazeldine assaulted the boy while he was a special education teacher in Sale, Victoria His victim said he was embarrassed to come forward at the time because he feared he wouldn't be believed

His victim said he was embarrassed to come forward at the time because he feared he wouldn't be believed Hazeldine has pleaded guilty to matters relating to six victims during his time at the school between 1971 and 1987

Phillip Douglas Hazeldine, 72, of Buninyong near Ballarat, pleaded guilty to unlawfully and indecently assaulting the boy multiple times in the early 1980s.

Hazeldine was employed by Gippsland Grammar's St Anne's junior school in Sale as a special education teacher between 1971 and 1987.

The County Court, sitting at Morwell, was told that during a school camp Hazeldine entered the boy's bunk cabin while he slept on three separate nights and assaulted him.

The victim told the court the teacher was carrying a torch and lent over his top bunk bed, put his hand and the torch under the sheets, pulled down his pyjama pants and rubbed and stroked his penis for 10 to 15 minutes.

'I couldn't run, I couldn't shout'

Prosecutor David O'Doherty told the court the boy pretended to be asleep and rolled away with his back to his attacker.

"Hazeldine intimidated me and pushed me to internalise the events and pain, rather than risking conflict with my teacher who would refuse the allegation," the victim, now 49, said in a statement to the court.

He said the death of his brother jolted him into having the courage to tell the secret that had burdened him for four decades.

"Did I drink too much to avoid other thoughts?" he said.

"I was concerned and embarrassed and felt a little like the kid I was with no control over my situation.

"I knew it was wrong. I tried to move away from the preying hands.

"I couldn't run, I couldn't shout, because he held a position of authority."

The victim told the court Hazeldine had breached his responsibility to safeguard children and even visited his house as a friendly neighbour after the assaults.

"He intimidated me in his office [after the attack]."

Gippsland Grammar has apologised to Hazeldine's victims. ( ABC Gippsland: Kellie Lazzaro )

History of offending

In 1997, the first of Hazeldine's victims came forward.

Defence barrister Andrew Waters told the court Hazeldine was jailed in 1998 for a minimum of 12 months for offences committed against students at the St Anne's campus in the late 1970s and 1980s.

"You served that sentence and completed sex offender's programs," Judge John Smallwood said in sentencing.

In 2002, Hazeldine, who has two children, pleaded guilty to further offences after more victims came forward.

But after serving two months in prison, his sentence was quashed because the Magistrates Court had no jurisdiction to pass sentence in the matter.

The case was forwarded to the County Court in 2003, when Hazeldine was sentenced to two years and 11 months' jail, wholly suspended.

Judge Smallwood said Hazeldine had pleaded guilty to matters relating to six victims.

"All from the same school, all from the same time period," Mr Waters told the court.

Phillip Douglas Hazeldine has been jailed twice before for sexually abusing children. ( ABC Gippsland: Kellie Lazzaro )

In a statement tendered to the court, Hazeldine's wife, Allison, who was present in court, said until the past couple of years, her husband had been unable to look in the mirror because he was so ashamed.

He has not worked since he was first imprisoned in 1998.

In sentencing, Judge Smallwood referenced an old psychiatrist's report that stated Hazeldine was a "sad and broken man with a sad past, present and future".

"You are withdrawn, isolated and ashamed," the judge said.

"You paid a high price indeed for the offending that occurred back then."

School sorry for hurt caused

In 1986 Hazeldine agreed to leave Gippsland Grammar and went to Ballarat to work for the Department of Human Services.

In a letter to parents, Gippsland Grammar principal David Baker said he had been helping police with their investigations into Hazeldine.

"The school recognises that it cannot have been easy for those bringing charges to have come forward, and we acknowledge that the charges relate to a period when these persons were students at the school and in its care.

"On behalf of the school community, I unreservedly apologise for the hurt that has been caused to them and their families.

"Whilst we cannot undo the events of the past, we can acknowledge our responsibility and will do all we can to assist those involved to move forward positively."

Hazeldine is a registered serious sex offender for life.

His 12-month prison sentence is suspended for two years.