Victims of a paedophile teacher granted Legal Aid to fund his appeal have been outraged to learn he reportedly gave away his share in a Sydney harbourside unit days prior to being convicted.
Former Trinity Grammar School teacher Neil Albert Futcher, 69, was found guilty of 22 child sex charges in September 2016.
He was later jailed for 18 years with a minimum term of 11 years but has since lodged an appeal in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.
Documents show that a week prior to being found guilty in September 2016, Futcher transferred his $562,500 share of a harbourside unit in Drummoyne to his brother Geoffrey, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Former Trinity Grammar School teacher and convicted paedophile Neil Futcher (pictured) has launched an appeal over his sentence
The news has infuriated Futcher’s victims, along with reports taxpayers are footing the bill for the appeal after he was granted Legal Aid.
One victim described the claims as ‘disgusting’ and accused Futcher of hiding his wealth.
‘You shouldn’t be allowed to move your assets so close to being convicted and then be able to claim Legal Aid,’ Rob Anderson, now 55, told The Daily Telegraph.
Futcher’s brother Geoffery told the publication his brother had given him the unit.
‘(Neil) hasn’t got half a million dollars in the bank,’ Mr Futcher said.
‘He’s got nothing. Anyone can sell or give half their unit to anyone at any time. He got no cash from me.’
Legal Aid declined to comment on the appeal.
Neil Futcher’s (pictured) victims are furious at reports that he gave his brother his share in a harbourside unit in Drummoyne to his brother days before he was convicted
Futcher was 27 when he first abused a boy, aged 11, while he was a sixth-class teacher at the Trinity Grammar School campus at Strathfield.
Later, after leaving teaching, Futcher worked as a swimming coach and targeted boys he was meant to be training for national competitions.
Between January 1974 and December 1981 he sexually abused six boys, often grooming victims and befriending their parents before taking the boys on unofficial camps and holidays.
He also lured boys to his Sydney unit after playing squash, offering them showers.
In one instance, he took photographs of a boy performing oral sex on him and used it to blackmail him into complying with further abuse.
Futcher was 27 when he first abused a boy, aged 11, while teaching at Trinity Grammar School (pictured)
Even after being found guilty, Futcher maintained his innocence, claiming his victims colluded against him so they could sue the organisations he worked for.
At his January 2017 sentencing, Sydney District Court Judge Jennie Girdham found Futcher had no remorse or contrition for the years of sickening abuse and poor prospects for rehabilitation.
She also stressed he would be spending longer in jail if the offending was more recent.
‘In the 40 years since the commission of the first offence the law relating to sexual offending has altered dramatically,’ Judge Girdham said.