Church volunteer, 79, jailed for sexual offences dating back to 1950s

A former church volunteer has been jailed for sexually assaulting boys in crimes dating back more than 60 years.

Keith Ronald Smith was 18 and 19 when he abused a boy about four years younger than him on multiple Friday nights when he stopped during drives home from a Christian youth group run by a Baptist Church in Melbourne's eastern suburbs in 1959.

In the 1970s Smith also repeatedly sexually abused another boy over three years while using their mutual interest in motorcycles and cars.

Smith ran a volunteer community kitchen for the needy at his local church in his retirement but at 79 has just begun a jail term.

County Court judge Frances Hogan this month jailed Smith for six years and two months, to serve two years before he is eligible for parole, after he pleaded guilty to buggery and eight charges of indecent assault.

"Your breach of trust was very significant and also hypocritical given that you were the youth leader of his church group charged with fostering moral, Christian conduct in your young charges," Judge Hogan said in relation to the second victim.

Smith admitted that over four months in 1959 he abused the first victim multiple times. The victim disclosed the crimes to his wife in 2017 when in his 70s.

"It is telling that for a very long time afterwards your first victim did not tell anyone about it. The law understands and acknowledges that enduring harm," Judge Hogan said.

The second boy was aged between 12 and 15 when Smith abused him. Smith was in his 30s then and ran a business selling motorcycle parts.

Preying on his victim's interest, Smith abused the boy in hotel rooms on work trips and at his home when they watched the Bathurst 1000 car race.

Smith's offending later escalated when he told his victim, "I'm gonna f--- you as after all, no one would think you were telling the truth."

Judge Hogan described this remark as "morally repugnant" and said the crimes had a profound impact on the second victim, who dissociated himself from others at school, struggled with alcoholism and depression as an adult and was an overly-protective parent.

"It is plain from the victim impact statement that your dreadful breach of trust and offending conduct continues to impact adversely on your second victim," she said.

Smith was honoured by his local council for charity work with the needy but was stood down from his church last year when charged.

He told a psychologist his sexual preference for males were sources of shame and embarrassment. He also expressed "extreme sorrow" for his victims and hoped they could find peace.

Judge Hogan said Smith used his good character to gain the trust of the victims and their families, but noted there was no subsequent offending.

She acknowledged a first-time jail sentence would be burdensome for an elderly man, particularly given Smith's anxiety about the risks of contracting coronavirus. There have been no known cases in Victorian jails.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or beyondblue 1300 224 636.