Two more charged in school sex case

Men accused of historical Dilworth offences now total 11 as police speak to more than 150 former students

A further two men have been accused of historical child sex abuse at Auckland’s Dilworth School as police speak to more than 150 former students as part of the investigation.

Police have charged two more men this week, bringing the total of alleged offenders to 11 — three of whom have now died.

A 73-year-old man has been charged with three counts of indecent assault.

And a 39-year-old man has been charged with three counts of sexual violation.

Two men who were already moving through the court system had been accused of further offending, police said.

A 61-year-old is facing a further charge of indecent assault, and a 73-year-old faces a further five charges of indecent assault.

All four men will appear at the Auckland District Court on Tuesday.

None of the men continued to be connected to the school, Dilworth Trust Board chairman Aaron Snodgrass said.

“The board deeply regrets and apologises that some of our old boys have suffered abuse while in our care,” he said.

Dilworth School had been working actively to support police in their investigation and was encouraging former students to lay a complaint if they have been victimised during their time at the school, Snodgrass said.

“We have been determined to confront honestly and openly what has happened and make sure that we do everything in our power moving forward to create and maintain an environment where our young men are safe and where they flourish.”

The boarding school for boys is offering support services for the victims, but said its focus was on “the wellbeing of current students” while supporting the wider Dilworth community.

The additional arrests and charges come weeks after the third death among the accused men.

Keith William Dixon, 70, had been living in Palmerston North before he died.

Dixon was charged with offences allegedly committed in 1973 and 1974.

Rex Clarence McIntosh was facing seven charges of indecent assault in relation to five boys between 1972 and 1980 before he died in hospital, battling pneumonia and kidney disease.

His death follows that of Richard Charles Galloway, another of the men who have been charged as part of Operation Beverley, the investigation into historical sexual abuse at Dilworth School.

Galloway died on November 26 aged 69 after earlier being diagnosed with cancer.

In March, former Dilworth house and scout master Ian Wilson was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for indecently assaulting five students between 1975 and 1992.

The 69-year-old said through his lawyer during sentencing that he was remorseful for his actions, but was introduced to “degenerate” behaviour at the school.

Five men are still going through the court system, including Ross Browne and Alister Harlow.

Others have been granted name suppression.

• If you’ve ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline available 24/7 Safe to Talk on

0800 044 334 or text 4334 or visit safetotalk.nz or malesurvivor.nz