Paedophile convicted of molesting boys across three states denies he's 'delusional' as he claims many of the allegations made against him were baseless

Daily Mail (UK)
November 10, 2015

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Gregory Robert Knight started his teaching career in South Australia before offending in three different states

Knight worked at Brisbane Boys' College, where he was accused of abuse

Despite admitting being a convicted sex offender, Knight told a child sex abuse royal commission many of the claims against him were baseless

Knight slammed a barrister for 'flying kites' when the barrister suggested he had sexual urges towards young boys

Knight also works at St Paul's School in Brisbane but later resigned after a pupil came forward with complaints of abuse

A convicted paedophile accused of molesting boys across three states has denied he's 'delusional' to proclaim his innocence.

Gregory Robert Knight started his teaching career in South Australia where he was found to have touched the penises of at least three teenage boys during school camps in 1977.

He then moved to Queensland and worked at Brisbane Boys' College, where he was again subject to allegations of abuse.

In 1981, he successfully applied for a job as a music teacher at St Paul's School, also in Brisbane, but resigned three years later after a student came forward with more complaints of misconduct.

A move to the Northern Territory followed, where he ultimately pleaded guilty and was convicted of 15 counts of child sexual offences in 1994.

But Knight on Tuesday told the child sex abuse royal commission many of the claims against him were baseless.

'Mr Knight, you have three boys in South Australia, a boy and a chaplain at Brisbane Boys' College, four at St Paul's and (victim) subject of a conviction by a jury,' Counsel Assisting David Lloyd summarised.

'You maintain your denial about all complaints made. It's just delusional, isn't it?'

A frustrated Knight replied: 'No, it isn't.'

In an oftentimes testy exchange, he told Mr Lloyd he hadn't appealed a conviction relating to the St Paul's victim 'yet' and accused him of interfering with an unresolved legal process.

However, he accepted he was a convicted sex offender when questioned by a lawyer representing Brisbane Boys' College.

But when asked if this meant he had sexual urges towards young boys, Knight slammed the barrister for 'flying kites'.

He recounted sending a letter to then-South Australian education minister Donald Hopgood offering to resign to avoid dismissal after the 1977 camps but was 'annoyed and disgusted' at his treatment.

Dr Hopgood, who was a member of the same concert band as Knight, said he later wrote him a reference intended to address his musical, not teaching, skills.

Knight said the St Paul's student who went to police - who earlier told the commission he had been drugged and raped - had only come forward when compensation started being handed out.

But this man's lawyer said Knight was a 'disgrace' to deny he'd abused the man as a young, vulnerable boy.

'You were charged, convicted and sentenced for horrific sexual violation of (the victim),' lawyer Roger Singh said.

'For you to proclaim your innocence is absurd and delusional.'

After the hearing erupted into applause, Knight responded: 'What was that?'

The royal commission continues.