"Big Brother" Psychologist Bob Montgomery Charged with Sexual Assaults of Three Boys in 1960s

February 1, 2019

New South Wales (Australia) Police allege Bob Montgomery sexually assaulted three 12-year-old boys in the 1960s while he was a scoutmaster in Sydney's east and inner west.

The prominent psychologist appeared on Channel 10's television program Big Brother as a guest consultant and as an expert on ABC radio programs.

A warrant for Dr Montgomery's extradition listed the charges as nine counts of indecent assault against a male and two counts of buggery, police said.

The 75-year-old, who lives on the Gold Coast, will "absolutely" fight the charges his lawyer Colin Greatorix told the ABC.

"Peoples' minds fade over the years," he said.

"People can create issues, and I'm not saying these people [the complainants] have lodged false claims, but we are saying they are not correct."

Mr Greatorix said his client was in "an uncomfortable state" and "quite depressed" after being charged.

"It's put him a state of shock, I was concerned about his mental health very much so... yesterday he was quite depressed," he said.

 A man with beard talking in front of a graphic of an eye with the "big brother" logo.

Mr Montgomery is in custody at Tweed Heads Police Station but due to a full schedule at the local court, Mr Greatorix will make an application for bail at Byron Bay Magistrates Court.

"My object is to get him out as quickly as possible and get him back to his family and let him start living as much of a normal life as he can until these matters are determined," Mr Greatorix said.

The victims were scouts at Edgecliff and Marrickville in Sydney at the time of the alleged offences, police said.

Scouts NSW told the ABC that Dr Montgomery was terminated from the organisation in 1965 and they had been working with police on their investigation for several years.

On his website, Dr Montgomery says he is the author of 13 best-selling self-help books and has published articles in more than 30 professional journals.

He describes himself as a regular contributor to television, radio and print media.

Source: “Former scoutmaster Bob Montgomery granted bail over child sex charges,” ABC News (Australia), February 1, 2019, URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-31/bob-montgomery-depressed-and-stressed-over-sex-charges/10766014