Dunedin Hospital eliminates the work of art of a prominent artist John Middleditch

Two paintings and a plate that identifies a water sculpture of the late prominent artist John Middleditch were removed from Dundedin Hospital, after a woman complained that she had sexually abused her in the 1970s.

Grandma’s complaintDesigned by RNZ, he determined another woman to present that Middleditch had sexually abused a child in the late 1960s.

Now, the initial plaintiff, who does not want to be appointed, wrote to the police commissioner Richard Chambers who asks the police to investigate Middleditch’s crimes if there are other victims.

RNZ obtained children of nine convictions against Middleditch in December 1976 for an indecent attack on girls between the eight and 11 years old.

The judicial documents show that Middleditch was convicted of attempted indecent aggression on a 10 -year -old girl for an incident in April 1976.

Middleditch was also sentenced four times for the indecent aggression of at least two girls aged 10, between May 25 and August 20, 1976.

He was also convicted for the indecent aggression of an 8 -year -old girl between September 6 and October 13, 1976 and an 11 -year -old girl between September 24 and October 5 the same year.

Two other indecent attacks against another 10-year-old girl and another 8-year-old girl happened in October and in November respectively.

Otago Daily Times Reported at that time, except for one of the victims, they participated in art courses at Middleditch’s house, in Heath St, while one was co -exted in his house, on the way home from school.

Middleditch was sentenced and fined $ 100 for each number and spared a prison sentence that accepted that the 70 -year -old had no good health.

Middleditch, who was married to artist Mary Middleditch, continued to create the big copper water fountain for the hospital that was donated in 1980.

The police also confirmed that RNZ Middleditch was convicted in December 1976 for indecently assaulted a girl between the ages of 12 and 16 and other indecent attacks.

The applicant said, at a meeting with Health Nz, yesterday, about the elimination of Middleditch’s art works in the hospital, said that the prominent artist was also convicted of a woman in a woman in the 1940s.

RNZ sought more details from Health Nz, but the only conviction against the artist located by the Ministry of Justice was one at North Shore District Court in 1993 for careless leadership, for which he was fined 150 dollars.

In his letter to Chambers, on March 1, the woman said she was not satisfied with how the police managed her complaint at the end of Middleditch.

“I was sexually abused in 1972 by Middleditch, when I was 11, and I had been chosen by my intermediate school to participate in specialized art courses.

“It is clear, only from the public evidence presented so far, that Middleditch’s offense has been widespread and took place over a considerable period of time.

“It is very unlikely that all his victims, or survivors become known.”

Last week, the police told RNZ that it is unlikely to take the complaint.

“We can confirm that the police have received a preliminary report of historical sexual crimes, and while the police stay in touch with the victim, a criminal procedure is being progressed against the alleged offender, because it is dead.”

The woman told Chambers that her opinion is that the police have a duty to protect residents in New Zealand, not just to follow criminals.

He wanted to know:

• If the police have investigated if there were other cases of offense by Middleditch;
• What additional action did the police take in 1976 or at any other time to determine how widespread his crime was;
• What – if there – warnings were given by police to the institutions where Middleditch worked, especially where young people were involved, such as schools;
• And what support did the Police of Victims/Survivors of his crime offer in 1976 and so far.

A police spokesman said about potential victims or additional incidents: “The police would encourage anyone who has information about the alleged, historical or otherwise, to appear so that the police can evaluate the information and contribute to the provision of adequate support, if necessary.”

The woman first cried at the then district health council in 2012 about Middleditch’s copper water fountain, when she was confronted, after returning to Dundin to take care of her dying brother.

“It has been something that has really stayed with me in the last 13 years.

“For survivors, one of the big problems is that no one believes you, so you know you are practically silent and that’s how it seemed to me.

“That, you know, I was dismissed. It was told that I have no evidence and the institution practically did nothing.”

She said she raised this at yesterday’s meeting with the director of the Operations Group in Southern Ora, Hamish Brown, and a member of the Arts Committee in Dundedin Hospital.

The woman said she was waiting for formal excuses from Health Nz, who called the meeting after RNZ was doing investigations.

He hoped to melt the fountain and turn into another piece of art to recognize the survivors.

The woman said that there was another alleged victim of sexual abuse, who spoke anonymously with ODT after hearing the story on the radio, was a huge relief for her.

“It was shocking in the sense that it was a journey so similar to mine, but it was something about not feeling alone.

“It was felt that people had to take more notice because I didn’t say it. That was really important to me and it feels like a huge weight on the shoulders.”

She said she felt terrible that there were other victims, but she hoped she herself, and the other woman validated raised some of the pain.

The woman said she was frustrated by the opinions of some who would have spoken publicly in support of keeping Middleditch, who included a painting of three empty women, under the argument in which art was separated from the artist.

“We would not apply this for public persons who abuse children in other careers.”

She said she would keep Middleditch’s art at Dundin Hospital will go against the reasons of the Art Committee to have her there – to create a feeling of healing and well -being.

“It was quite annoying that once again we made people talk about what should happen, talk about us without us and try to push their own agenda without involving survivors.

“So, the survivors, once again, are silent and have no voice and are determined to make sure that this is not happening.”

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Sexual violence