Paedophile teacher William ‘Rob’ Gilfillan sentenced for sexual offences against two Victorian schoolgirls in the 1980s

A former physical education teacher serving Australia’s longest sentence for child sexual abuse offences against his daughter has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years for “brazen and forcible” sexual crimes against two schoolgirls in his care in the 1980s. In December, William “Rob” Gilfillan was found guilty of indecent assault of a person under 16 and sexual penetration of a child under 16. The five counts against two victims took place at Traralgon high school in Gippsland, Victoria. Gilfillan, 69, appeared via video link from Barwon prison for sentencing before chief justice Amanda Chambers. He repeatedly shook his head as she detailed his crimes. Chambers said Gilfillan denies his offending and there is no prospect of rehabilitation. “Teachers are entrusted by their schools and school communities in the performance of their role,” Chambers said. “This case highlights the profound and enduring harm caused where offending transgresses that foundational relationship of trust. ” Chambers said she had to take into account the unprecedented length of the sentence imposed by the New South Wales district court in 2016 for the rape and torture of his daughter, which meant Gilfillan would not be eligible for parole until he was 92. “If you are not granted parole, by the time you have served your 48-year sentence, you will have reached the age of 104,” Chambers said. “It is more likely than not that you will die in custody. …