Doyle named in College assault claim

A FORMER schoolgirl has complained to police about unwanted sexual advances from ex-lord mayor Robert Doyle.

News Corp has seen a signed police statement about the incident, which the woman informed Victoria Police’s Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team about last September.

The Geelong College student told detectives that at age 15 she was seated in the front seat of the car driven by Mr Doyle, who was a teacher at the school, on the way to afterschool sports.

“Whilst I was a student at the Geelong College the ex- Melbourne mayor, Robert Doyle, sexually assaulted me,” the police statement said.

“He touched my leg several times and tried to make out that his hand had slipped off the gear stick on to my leg. Robert Doyle was a teacher at the school when he assaulted me.”

She has chosen not to take the matter further at this point — but did not rule out asking for a full police probe into the alleged incident, which occurred in the 1970s, later.

The woman yesterday said she made a statement to encourage others with more serious cases of Mr Doyle’s alleged offending to come forward.

Geelong College said it had not conducted any investigations into Mr Doyle’s time as a teacher, and it had no plans to do so.

The Geelong Advertiser is not suggesting the allegations against Mr Doyle are true, only that they have been made and are being investigated.

A City of Melbourne report into his behaviour won’t be released until after a police probe, despite Mr Doyle on Friday withdrawing legal action.

Kharla Williams, one of the complainants, said she was disappointed there was still no outcome from the inquiry.

“Choosing not to release these findings appears to only benefit Mr Doyle and Melbourne City Council,” she said.

Mr Doyle has denied any wrongdoing. He and his lawyer did not return calls.