Victim of ‘disgusting paedophile’ serving Australia’s longest sentence for child sex abuse tells of ‘lost decades’

A woman who was sexually assaulted by her high school PE teacher, William "Rob" Gilfillan, in the 1980s, has told a court that his actions negatively impacted her life for decades. Gilfillan, already serving Australia’s longest sentence for child sex abuse, was found guilty in December of indecent assault and sexual penetration of a child under 16. The victim described losing her "teenage self" due to the abuse by Gilfillan, who is also in prison for offenses against his daughter. Her testimony highlights the long-term trauma experienced by victims of child sexual abuse. This statement comes as Gilfillan faces further legal proceedings for his crimes.