Victim Details Decades of Trauma from Teacher's Abuse as Sentencing Nears
A woman who endured repeated sexual assaults by her high school physical education teacher during the 1980s has delivered a powerful victim impact statement in court, detailing how the abuse fundamentally altered her life for decades. The perpetrator, William "Rob" Gilfillan, was found guilty in December of multiple serious offences against two victims at Traralgon High School in Gippsland, Victoria.
Historic Crimes and a Long Prison Sentence
Gilfillan, aged 69, appeared via video link from Barwon Prison, where he is currently incarcerated. He is already serving what is recognized as Australia's longest sentence for child sex abuse offences, stemming from a separate and horrific case involving his daughter in New South Wales. In that 2016 trial, Justice Sarah Huggett imposed a total prison term of 48 years, with a non-parole period of 36 years, noting his actions were driven by "completely selfish, depraved and sadistic reasons."
For the Victorian offences, Gilfillan was convicted of indecent assault of a person under 16 and sexual penetration of a child under 16. The court heard the abuse occurred while he was in a position of trust as a teacher at the school.
A Life Permanently Altered
In her statement read aloud to the Victoria County Court, the victim, now an adult, described the profound and lasting damage. "I lost my teenage self," she told the court. "I lost those years of emotional and sexual development, and this changed my life negatively for decades."
She elaborated on the psychological toll, stating she had lost "decades on self hate, shame, sexual numbness, body dysmorphia, alcohol misuse [and] hiding my bulimia." She referred to Gilfillan as a "disgusting paedophile" and revealed the specific nature of some assaults, which involved the use of callipers under the guise of preparing for a school camp.
"I was ashamed for so many years and felt such guilt as I reported him at the time to stop him; no one spoke to me," she added, highlighting the isolation she experienced.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing Arguments
Chief Justice Amanda Chambers presided over the hearing. Prosecutor Sandra McDougall argued that Gilfillan's role as a teacher was an aggravating feature of the crimes. She also noted that his existing sentence for later offences was relevant as it demonstrated a lack of rehabilitation.
Defence counsel Paul Kounnas argued for any new sentence to be served concurrently with his existing term, citing his client's advanced age. Gilfillan will be eligible for parole on his current sentence at age 96. A psychological assessment presented to the court indicated Gilfillan continues to deny all charges against him.
A second victim, who was under 16 at the time, chose not to have her impact statement read in court. Gilfillan was found guilty of sexually penetrating this 15-year-old victim in the school gymnasium.
Media Restrictions and Upcoming Sentencing
Due to legal proceedings, the media was prohibited from naming Gilfillan between his 2016 conviction and December 2025. The court has now set a date for sentencing on these historic 1980s crimes for June 16th. The outcome will determine the additional time, if any, he must serve for these earlier offences committed while working as a teacher.
