Elderly preacher jailed for child sex abuse

ABC News, Australia/June 16, 2006

An elderly preacher has been jailed for the ongoing sexual abuse of young boys at religious youth camps up to 50 years ago.

Between 1957 and 1979, Ronald Geoffrey Weeks abused seven boys he met through religious organisations he formed such as the South Australian Revival Crusade.

Judge Trish Kelly said that during the acts of abuse with one of the boys, Weeks read the Bible to his young victim, telling him they should both pray to God for forgiveness.

She told Weeks he had committed a "sickening" breach of trust against his own religious congregation.

Judge Kelly said that while Weeks was no longer a threat to the community, it was necessary to send the 81-year-old to prison.

She jailed Weeks for eight years with a four-and-a-half year non-parole period.