Just Standfirst. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
Warning: This story contains content some readers may find distressing.
A former Gloriavale teacher who abused and assaulted at least 20 children over a 40-year stretch has left a "terrible, tragic legacy", a court has heard.
Just Standfast was sentenced to four years imprisonment with no minimum non-parole period in the Greymouth District Court on Friday.
The 73-year-old had pleaded guilty to a total 18 charges in May, including two counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, 10 counts of indecency with a girl under 12, and six counts of indecency with girls aged between 12 and 16.
The youngest victim of these crimes was aged 5.
Standfast also admitted five charges of assault with blunt weapons against five boys and a man.
The offending occurred between 1983 and 2023.
Upon arriving at court for the hearing, Standfast, who is now a wheelchair user, said he was "sorry" when asked questions by media.
Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
A victim impact statement by former member Virginia Courage was read to the court by Crown prosecutor Kerry White.
Courage (44), who waived her right to automatic name suppression, was taught by Standfast from years 1-3.
"You touched me inappropriately, placing your hand under my dress and onto my bare legs and on several occasions touched my bottom.
"I still remember the thoughts of confusion and panic.
"But you, talking, marking my work or reading a story, no change in your voice or hesitation in your hand, with the confidence of a manoeuvre done a hundred times before."
The court heard that Courage was taught from an early age to "obey, submit and not question Standfast's words or actions".
"Your brazen behaviour was never hidden, you touched my female classmates with the rest of us watching.
"I shake my head with utter disbelief when I think back to this time 1985 Springbank Christian Community School.
"Springbank Community; claiming to be a "Christian school with Christian teachers".
"What a joke."
Standfast was previously sentenced to six months' community detention and two years' intensive supervision in 2019, for indecently touching and kissing a 9-year-old student in 2012.
Courage contemplated whether her former teacher had been "tortured by his conscience".
"I pity you, I weep for you, your wife, your family.
"You have hurt children, broken trust and left lasting damage on so many people.
"What a terrible, tragic legacy."
The court heard further details - in both Courage's statement and in Judge Quentin Hix's sentencing remarks - about Standfast's troubled background under state care, where he was exposed to "significant violence".
"When I read the letters from your children, they indicate, in part, this may be a case, at least in relation to the violence matters, perhaps a bit of the son copying the behaviour modelled by the father," Hix said.
Judge Quentin Hix. Photo: RNZ / Adam Burns
Other factors including Standfast's remorse and his health condition were weighed up by the judge.
Former school principal at Gloriavale, Faithful Pilgrim, claimed Standfast was of "good character and fit to be a teacher" on an application form to renew his practising certificate in 2012 - months after he was told about the assault - and again in 2016.
Pilgrim was suspended from teaching for three months by the New Zealand Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal for serious misconduct and cannot work as a principal for three years.
Senior Gloriavale leader Peter Righteous, who assisted Standfast into the hearing, refused to comment following proceedings.