A former teacher from Gloriavale, Just Standfast, 73, has been sentenced to four years in prison for abusing at least 20 children over 40 years. He faced 18 charges, including sexual offenses against young girls, with the youngest victim only 5 years old. Standfast used a wheelchair in court and expressed regret when asked by the media.
A victim named Virginia Courage, who was a student of Standfast, shared her experience in court. She described feeling confused and panicked because Standfast touched her inappropriately while acting normally. Courage highlighted how Standfast’s actions affected many girls in their school, making her feel disbelief about the abuse happening in a place claiming to be a “Christian school.”
Previously, in 2019, Standfast received six months of community detention for touching and kissing another young student. Courage reflected on whether Standfast felt guilty for his actions, but emphasized the pain he caused many children and families.
The court also discussed Standfast’s difficult background, including past violence he faced while in state care. Judge Quentin Hix noted that Standfast’s behavior could be a result of his own experiences.
Factors such as Standfast’s remorse and health issues were considered during sentencing. A former Gloriavale principal, Faithful Pilgrim, had previously vouched for Standfast’s character despite being aware of the abuse allegations. Pilgrim was later suspended for serious misconduct.
After the hearing, another Gloriavale leader, Peter Righteous, declined to comment.
