Abuser kept teaching: Accuser

Peter Boock’s abuser did not wear a white collar.

But the response by a Catholic school has highlighted what still needs to change to protect children, Boock believes.

Boock, 64, the brother of former cricketer Stephen Boock and journalist Richard Boock, has confirmed he was sexually abused for nearly a year in Dunedin in 1967-68.

And his abuser, a then 19-year-old student, Robin Pettit, was later allowed to continue teaching at St Bede’s, Christchurch, even after past offending was revealed.

Pettit admitted his offending when contacted in Christchurch last week, telling ODT Insight he “had a bad period there” after finding out he was adopted: “Yes, it was a very serious thing that I did. I’m very regretful about it all, but I can’t go backwards.”

Pettit also confessed directly to college rector Justin Boyle when Boock complained in 2011, but was allowed to continue teaching, with no extra precautions, until retiring in 2015.

As a teenager, Boock was reluctant to reveal the abuse. He eventually told a priest, who warned him he would be committing “a mortal sin” if he did not speak out.

“Which, to my mind, was telling me I was going to hell.”

Boock told Pettit to stop or he would speak out, and the abuse was over. But a childhood of nightmares turned to alcoholism in adulthood, as Boock came close to drinking himself to death.

Then in 2011, he learned Pettit was a teacher at St Bede’s, and contacted Boyle. Pettit later confessed to Boyle, but the school decided it was “a one-off” and took no further action, he said.

The Education Council is now investigating, after a complaint from Boock.

Boyle, responding to ODT Insight questions, confirmed “historic allegations” made by Boock had been investigated in 2011. He would not comment on the findings.