|
Convicted SA sex offender Ray Partridge...
news.com.au
Convicted SA sex offender Ray Partridge member of Adelaide Triathlon Club, which is frequented by children young as five A FORMER church youth worker who sexually abused two boys in the 1980s is a member of a triathlon group that is frequented by children as young as five. The Advertiser can reveal Ray Partridge — convicted, in the District Court, of multiple child sex crimes — is a member of and volunteer at the Adelaide Triathlon Club. His involvement with the club is now the subject of inquiries by Triathlon Australia, the sport’s national governing body. One of Partridge’s victims, known as “Clifford”, yesterday told The Advertiser he hoped those inquiries would result in the sex offender’s expulsion for the sake of young members. He said photographs of Partridge on the club’s Facebook page had left him upset and dismayed at the thought of children being at risk. “My whole reason for approaching police about my abuse was to get this guy convicted for sex crimes so that he could be kept away from children for the rest of his life,” he said. “I was devastated to find out that wasn’t the case, that it’s not happened, to know he’s still able to get himself into positions where he can interact with children.” Partridge, 50, pleaded guilty to three counts of gross indecency, three counts of indecent assault, two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Those crimes were committed between June and August, 1985, while Partridge served as a youth worker with the Salvation Army. Clifford was 12 years old at the time, while the other victim was aged 15. In 1996, Clifford approached SA Police and reported the abuse. In 1997, the District Court jailed Partridge for three years with an 18-month non-parole period, but suspended that term on condition of a two-year good behaviour bond. The Adelaide Triathlon Club provides training, support and events for athletes as well as “come and try” days for children. Under the sport’s national rules, children aged between 5 and 7 years may participate in team events, and in solo events from the age of 8. Yesterday, Adelaide Triathlon Club event director Andrew Bartlett declined to comment on Partridge’s membership or his past convictions. Triathlon Australia chief executive Anne Gripper said she was unaware of Partridge’s past prior to being contacted by The Advertiser. She said the organisation’s “stringent” protocols on child protection would be followed now that the matter had been brought to its attention. “We have a good working relationship with our state bodies and, when we become aware of previous criminal convictions, we work with them to determine a response,” she said. “We are committed to providing a safe environment for children, which places some quite stringent requirements upon our state members.” Clifford said he had extended forgiveness to Partridge while giving his victim impact statement in 1997, believing it the right thing to do under his Christian beliefs. “I just hope Triathlon Australia will follow through with an investigation ... people may well say ‘he’s done his time’, but why do they think he’s there in the club?” he said. “If my children were part of a sporting club and there was a known, convicted sex offender around that club, my children would no longer be part of that club.”
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.