Barry Watson

Barry Francis Watson was a youth leader in the Church of England Boys Society (CEBS). CEBS is an adjunct organisation to the Anglican Church of Australia. The first branch was established in Kew, Victoria in 1914 and the organisation’s main purpose was to help boys between six and 16 years of age to develop spiritually, mentally, physically and socially. Various CEBS branches were established within numerous dioceses of the Anglican Church. In Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania all CEBS branches have

Watson was associated with CEBS in Victoria between 1969 to 1979. It has been reported that Watson would gain the trust of his victims and and then take advantage of such trust by abusing them in various ways. This includes the following:

  • assaulting them while they were bathing;

  • assaulting them while under the pretence that he was medically examining them;

  • assaulting them while under the pretence of playing around/wrestling; and

  • taking photos of them while naked.

Watson abused children between the ages of nine to 13 at various locations, including:

  • his home in Park Orchards (north-eastern Melbourne);

  • CEBS hall in Domeney Reserve, Park Orchards;

  • CEBS camps in Warrandyte and Frankston in Victoria; and

  • In his car.

In October 2013, Barry Watson was found guilty in the Victoria County Court of 12 charges of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16 and pleaded guilty to another six charges placed on him. He was given a maximum jail term of four years with a non-parole period of two and a half years.

It is reported that during the trial and sentencing Barry Watson never showed any remorse for what he did.

In 1987, Barry Watson also pleaded guilty to similar charges in Melbourne Magistrates Court but his jail term was wholly suspended.

Moody Law has represented and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual abuse against leaders of the Church of England Boys’ Society in Australia.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

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