Call for witnesses: The Scots College
Koffels Solicitors & Barristers would like to hear from former students, staff, and others connected with The Scots College, Bellevue Hill, who may have information about any of the three individuals below. Whether you experienced abuse yourself or saw something that concerned you, your account may help other survivors. Every conversation is private and confidential.
This page summarises information drawn from court records and published media reports. It does not make findings or allegations against The Scots College. Except where a criminal conviction is recorded, the matters described remain allegations. The page is intended to help former students understand their options.
John Beckett
John Beckett taught mathematics at The Scots College from 1974 until 1999. Before that, he taught mathematics at Harbord Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Canada, from September 1968 to June 1973.
At Scots, Beckett was a Housemaster and was involved in pastoral care and extracurricular activities. For many years he supervised students on the school’s annual trips to central Australia.
In 1989, while chaperoning one of those trips, Beckett indecently assaulted three students. In 1999 the school informed him of allegations relating to that excursion, and he retired on 23 July 1999.
Because the offences occurred in South Australia, the matter came before the District Court in Adelaide in 2013. Beckett initially pleaded not guilty, but on the day his trial was due to begin in 2015, he pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault. Each count carried a maximum penalty of eight years’ imprisonment.
On 12 June 2015 Beckett was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years. The sentence was suspended, and he was instead placed on a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $1,000.
In sentencing, Judge Brebner described the offending as “plainly serious, opportunistic and predatory” and acknowledged the profound effect it had on the victims. His Honour also took into account that Beckett was nearly 77 and in poor health.
Ewen Addison
Ewen Addison attended The Scots College as a student from 1989 to 1993. He was later employed by the school in its IT department from 2000 to 2002. He is also reported to have assisted in the boarding house and helped supervise students on the Year 7 camp and snow trips. Separately, he was a leader with the 1st Clovelly Scout Troop from around 1993.
A number of boarding students reportedly complained about Addison’s sexualised behaviour. The complaints were investigated by the school, the NSW Child Protection Enforcement Agency in December 2001, and the NSW Ombudsman in January 2002.
No criminal charges were laid in Australia. However, in January 2002 Apprehended Violence Orders were obtained on behalf of two students who had complained about him. Among other things, the orders prohibited Addison from contacting the students except through their legal representatives and from approaching the school or anywhere else they attended for their education. Because the students remained at Scots, he could no longer work there.
In late January 2002 Addison moved to Whistler, British Columbia, on a work visa. He worked part-time as a ski instructor with Whistler Blackcomb, a role that involved teaching children at the Whistler Kids Adventure Club, most of them holidaying tourists. He reportedly left the job in January 2003 after an unspecified injury. His visa then expired, but he remained in British Columbia.
On 18 October 2002 local publication Pique Newsmagazine reported that Addison was recruiting boys aged 11 to 14 for a Scouts group he was leading, describing him as a “ten-year scout master who recently moved to Whistler from Sydney, Australia”.
On 28 April 2003 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Addison in Whistler and charged him with nine offences relating to six children aged between four and 11: three counts each of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual assault. The offences were alleged to have occurred between February 2002 and his arrest.
That Addison could obtain a Canadian visa after being investigated in Australia drew criticism from politicians in both countries.
Timothy Carter
Timothy Carter taught part-time at The Scots College Preparatory School from approximately 2003 to 2008. He specialised in drama, and wrote, directed, and produced the annual Year 6 performances. He is also said to have tutored students in a range of subjects outside school hours.
It is alleged that Carter groomed and sexually abused a student during these tutoring sessions. His position was made redundant at the end of the 2008 school year. He was never criminally investigated or charged, and we understand he has since died.
Do you have information?
If you were a student or staff member at The Scots College and have information about any of these individuals, or if you experienced abuse yourself, we would like to hear from you. You don’t need to be certain that what you saw or experienced is relevant. Ross Koffel speaks with every person personally and in confidence.
Call Ross on 02 9283 5599, or use the secure form below.
Enquiries made through this form are encrypted, private, and seen only by our legal team.
Your options if you were abused at The Scots College
Koffels acts for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. For most survivors, a civil compensation claim is the pathway we recommend. Compensation is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered, including to your health, relationships, career, and quality of life, and it is not capped. Virtually all claims settle before a hearing, and confidentiality is standard.
NSW has removed time limits for civil child sexual abuse claims, so in most cases it is not too late to act, although individual circumstances still matter. Read more about limitation periods for historical institutional abuse claims.
The Scots College participates in the National Redress Scheme through the Presbyterian Church NSW and ACT. The Scheme may suit some people where a civil claim isn’t viable, but payments are capped at $150,000, a figure rarely reached in practice. The average payment for serious abuse is approximately $80,000, and many payments are significantly lower. Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim. Applications close on 30 June 2027, so we strongly recommend getting independent legal advice before applying. Our review of the National Redress Scheme explains why.
For more about the school and claims process, see our page on The Scots College, Bellevue Hill.
