Prosecutor Nick Goodenough told the court the child had been jumping on a trampoline at the summer camp in 1985 or 1986 when his shorts began chafing painfully and he told Aulsebrook about it. Aulsebrook told the child to go to a first aid office, where he asked him to remove his shorts and gave him a can of Fanta before rubbing his genitals and then digitally penetrating him. The brother, who was later ordained as a priest, also applied a cream on the boy and told him it would stop his rash, even though he didn’t have one. After he stopped, Aulsebrook complimented the boy about his genitals and patted him on the head. "The offender also said not to tell anyone what we have been doing," Mr Goodenough said.

Loading Aulsebrook didn’t admit to the incident when he was interviewed by police in 2017, almost a year after the victim spoke with authorities. "He gave primarily ‘no comment’ answers," Mr Goodenough said. But Aulsebrook’s lawyer Lucinda Thies said his eventual guilty plea shows he has now acknowledged responsibility. "It’s a public expression of his wrongdoing," she told the court.

She stressed the criminal justice system has been Aulsebrook’s reality for the past decade. He was first sent to jail for nine months in 2011 for sexually assaulting a 12 year-old student at a Victorian school on five occasions. In 2016, he was convicted of raping a 12-year-old boy and admitted to other counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to a total of eight years and six months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of five years and nine months.

He appealed in 2017 and a retrial was held in the County Court, leading to another jury finding him guilty and his sentence being reduced by a year. Auslebrook left the Salesian order in 2004 and went on to work in the federal public service until he was sentenced in 2011. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Ms Thies said Aulsebrook has lost his connection to the church since his offending came to light and his family has ostracised him. Judge Gavan Meredith appeared to have little sympathy for those developments.

"What do you expect these people to do when he has behaved in the manner that he has?" he said. In sentencing Aulsebrook, Ms Thies said she hoped the judge would take into account he has not committed any offences since 1995, underwent a six-month psychosexual rehabilitation program in 2004 and is remorseful for his offending. She also noted the detrimental affect of prison on his mental health so far and his age. "He’s in the afternoon of his life and time for him is still precious." The judge expects to sentence Aulsebrook in the coming fortnight.

AAP If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or beyondblue 1300 224 636.