Families vent fury as Christian Brother jailed for abuse

Victims of one of Australia's worst paedophiles hurled abuse at the Christian Brother who devastated their lives after a judge sentenced him to almost 15 years' jail yesterday.

Robert Charles Best, 70, was sentenced for 27 offences including the rape of a 9-year-old boy.

As Victorian County Court Judge Roy Punshon ordered Best be taken to the cells, the courtroom erupted as victims and their families expressed their rage.

Cries of "maggot" from the mother of one victim and "f****** arsehole" and "you dirty f****** dog" from two of his victims echoed around the room as Best was led away. When the mother of a victim turned and abused him as he stood in the dock, Best merely smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

The outbursts came after Judge Punshon imposed sentences totalling almost 50 years, some to be served cumulatively but most concurrently. He will serve a maximum 14 years and nine months.

The longest sentence is six years for raping a 9-year-old student at St Alipius primary school in Ballarat in 1969. The court heard the boy, who had a physical impairment, passed out after being raped by Best and was beaten by another Brother until he denied anything had happened.

Judge Punshon told Best his crimes committed over almost 20 years against 11 boys had caused enormous misery and harm.

Civil actions are planned against both Best and the Christian Brothers on behalf of his victims.

His sentence is the second longest given to a church paedophile in Australia. Father Gerald Ridsdale, in Ballarat at the same time as Best, was jailed in 1994 for 18 years.

- AAP