Teacher admits abusing boys

A retired Catholic teacher pleaded guilty in the Lower Hutt District Court yesterday to sexually assaulting young boys at a Maori secondary school in Feilding.

John Louis Stevenson, 66, of Wellington, admitted abusing five boys, aged between 14 and 16, between 1976 and 1981 at the Hato Paora Maori Boys school where he was known as Brother Bernard.

He pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault and one of inducing an indecent act. Stevenson was remanded in custody for sentencing on December 22.

- NZPA