A man who was sexually abused by a rural New South Wales dentist for years has opened up about the moment he confronted his abuser while wearing a police wire.
Philip Wright was 15-years-old in the 1980s when he was referred to Werner Otto Schwarz’s dentist practice to undergo hypnosis for a fear of needles and his bed-wetting, according to News.com.au.
But instead of receiving help, Mr Wright, 51, said the respected community member sexually abused him during their fortnightly appointments and sometimes brought in other people – including a man who had abused Mr Wright as a child – to watch.
Schwarz, now 82, was jailed on January 12 for at least eight years of ‘systematic and horrific’ abuse of four male patients boys who were as young as nine.
After three decades, Mr Wright came face-to-face with Schwarz again in 2014 after investigators asked him to approach his abuser and record the confrontation.
Philip Wright (pictured), a 51-year-old man who was sexually abused by rural NSW dentist Werner Otto Schwarz for years, has opened up about the moment he confronted his abuser
Mr Wright was 15-years-old in the 1980s when he was referred to Werner Otto Schwarz’s (pictured) dentist practice to undergo hypnosis for a fear of needles and his bed-wetting
The 51-year-old told News.com.au he could feel his heart pounding and his mouth begin to dry as he approached Schwarz, who he said appeared to recognize him.
‘It was the coldest, most revolting moment. It was a moment of pure repulsion,’ Mr Wright said, adding that it took ‘everything in him’ not to lunge at his abuser.
‘Why did you pick me?’ the 51-year-old can be heard asking Schwarz, who immediately began to trip over his words.
‘You sexually abused me,’ he continued.
‘Well that doesn’t fit into my … Oh God, I don’t know. I’m not aware of that …’ Schwarz responded.
A jury found Schwarz guilty of 16 counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual intercourse without consent in 2017.
Judge Helen Syme, in sentencing Schwarz to a maximum of 16 years, said he used his skill as a hypnotist to put the boys in a relaxed state where they were more likely to accept the abuse.
She said in the District Court one victim described feeling like a puppet while others felt they couldn’t command their bodies to physically move.
‘Even if they professed not to be hypnotised, they were terrified, and the effect was similarly debilitating,’ the judge said.
‘The use of this technique to render the young boys pliable to the offender’s selfish sexual perversions is horrifying.’
Schwarz, who appeared at his sentence via video link, will be 90 years old when he is eligible for parole in October 2025
Judge Syme said Schwarz breached the trust and respect he had in the rural region where he worked – with his victims often too intimidated by his status to complain.
Most were encouraged by their parents to take the hypnosis in the belief it would be beneficial, with one child going to help ease his fear of medical care and another to improve his school marks.
Now middle-aged men, they continue to grapple with serious mental and relationship issues and suffer a phobia of medical professionals, the court heard.
The judge said some of them had also experienced a backlash in their community after Schwarz was charged when they should have been commended for their courage.
‘It is precisely attitudes like this that allowed such evil behaviour to exist and complaints to be discouraged,’ she said.
Schwarz, who appeared at his sentence via video link, will be 90 years old when he is eligible for parole in October 2025.