Ex-Bega boss 'stole my right to choose'

A young woman who was abused by former Bega Cheese boss Maurice Van Ryn when she was a child says she is angry at him for taking away her right to choose.

Former Bega Cheese boss Maurice Van Ryn.

Ex-Bega Cheese boss Maurice Van Ryn is to be sentenced for the sexual abuse of nine children. (AAP)

Ex-Bega Cheese boss Maurice Van Ryn avoided the gaze of one of his victims as she described how he had stolen her right to choose her "first time".

The once-successful businessman had his face turned toward the judge in Sydney's District Court on Monday as the young woman, who cannot be named, described the pain, fear and guilt that has flowed from his abuse.

For years she had kept what he did to her a secret and only spoke up when she heard he had been arrested.

Now she is afraid people will find out what he did to her.

"I didn't want people to know what happened to me," she said.

"I don't want people asking questions."

Since the abuse, she has suffered depression and was hospitalised for self-harm and attempting suicide.

It has also left her fearful of future relationships.

"He has stolen from me my choice to share my body with someone for the first time," the woman said, in a strong and even voice.

"I'm so angry ... it wasn't his to take."

Van Ryn pleaded guilty last year to abusing 10 boys and girls, aged eight to 16, over the previous decade.

Psychologist Dr Donald Rowe told the court Van Ryn's "high level of intelligence" would help prevent him from re-offending as would the testosterone suppressant medication he is currently taking.

One of the contributing factors to Van Ryn's offending was that he had experienced a "decrease in sexual activity" with his then partner, he said.

But forensic psychiatrist Professor David Greenberg said "one has to be cautious about making those statements", adding a pedophile's wife should not be held responsible for pedophilic behaviour.

Van Ryn has previously told the court there had never been a time in his life when he wasn't sexually attracted to children and he just wasn't able to resist the urge.

Prof Greenberg said pedophiles often justify, minimise and rationalise their behaviour.

The matter will return to court at a later date.


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Source: AAP


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