By Tim Dornin
During his time as a Salvation Army officer William John Keith Ellis regularly raped and beat boys in his care.
The offences dated back to the 1960s, when he was in the prime of his life and decided boys as young as nine were fair game.
Ellis, now 76, will spend the final years of his life paying for his crimes.
There's a good chance he'll die in jail after he was ordered to serve 16 years, including a minimum of 12 years, after being found guilty of seven counts of buggery and six of indecent assault.
The offences, against four boys aged nine to 15, occurred between 1960 and 1971 at the former Salvation Army Eden Park boys home at Wistow, in the Adelaide Hills.
In sentencing Ellis on Friday, South Australian Supreme Court Justice Michael David said he'd also accepted evidence that Ellis had abused one of his victims more than 100 times.
He said the abuse occurred amid a culture of beatings and cruel incarceration and described the boys home as a disgrace.
"It was an horrific place by any standards, let alone modern standards," Justice David said.
One of the four victims, Tim Anderson, now 53, said the judge's comments were "spot on".
"It was horrendous, terrible. We used to get terrible hidings, thrashings, beatings and I was only eight too," he told reporters outside the court.
Mr Anderson said he would not be concerned if Ellis, who will be at least 88 when he becomes eligible for parole, died behind bars.
"I wouldn't have any sympathy for him," he said.
"He used to hit too hard. Kids used to kick and scream and he would just hit them harder."
Justice David said it was no exaggeration to say the victims were permanently scarred by the abuse Ellis inflicted.
He said it was also difficult to understand how it took place for such an extended period of time in almost full view of the community.
"The very existence of this home and how it was run was a disgrace," he said.
Justice David said he accepted that the term he imposed on Ellis could amount to a life sentence.
But Ellis had shown no contrition and continued to deny any wrongdoing, he said.