Counsellor has abuse conviction

A youth counsellor accused of sexually abusing seven troubled teenagers in his care admitted to a virtually identical accusation more than 20 years ago — and also confessed to psychologists he had sexually assaulted many more boys.

Allan Keith Huggins, 68, went on trial in the District Court in Perth yesterday, accused of the repeated abuse of teenage boys during his time as a co-ordinator of a work skills program being run by the WA government in the early 1990s.

Mr Huggins is accused of massaging, fondling, sexually abusing and digitally penetrating the teens during the year he worked as a counsellor in East Victoria Park.

He was suspended and eventually resigned in 1991 after another vulnerable boy alleged he was indecently dealt with in a motel room in Albany after Mr Huggins had driven him there on the pretext of finding him work.

The experienced teacher and counsellor admitted that offence in an Albany court, and as part of the process was interviewed by two clinical psychologists.

The court was told yesterday that during those therapy sessions Mr Huggins admitted his predilection for teenage boys — and that he had acted on his impulses at least six times.

Psychologist Kari McLaughlin, who kept detailed notes of her time with Mr Huggins, said she concluded that Mr Huggins was “extremely vulnerable” to abusing boys in his care.

Prosecutor Bernard Standish told the court that Mr Huggins oversaw the Warminda program, which aimed to give troubled teens life skills to help them find work.

However, Mr Standish said Mr Huggins also had “a propensity to be attracted to young adolescent males and further had a propensity to act on that attraction”.

Mr Huggins denies all 49 charges, which include aggravated sexual assault, indecent dealing, sexual penetration and aggravated indecent assault.

His lawyer David McKenzie urged the jury to put Mr Huggins’ previous conviction to one side when considering the charges.

“There may well be an explanation for these seven people making these allegations and that may become clear during the trial,” Mr McKenzie said.