A Hamilton martial arts instructor who worked with young bullies has been found dead days after police launched an investigation into claims that he sexual abused young men.
Stephen John Wallace was a well known martial arts instructor at Incorporated Martial Arts club on Colombo St in Hamilton.
A police spokesman said Wallace was found dead at his home after the investigation was launched last week following complaints of sexual offending against young men.
"Police had not yet spoken with Mr Wallace as the investigation was still in its very early stages at the time of his death," police said in a written statement.
"The priority for police now is to identify victims of Mr Wallace's alleged offending who have not yet come forward.
"It is important that these individuals have the opportunity to speak to police so that they can be provided with all appropriate support."
A woman at Incorporated Martial Arts, who refused to be named, said the group had brought in Victim Support workers to speak to younger members of the club.
"The club are doing everything we can to support the members and the victims."
The woman said staff at the club did not know of the alleged offending and were still coming to grips with what had happened.
"We didn't know that there was an investigation until after he died. We are broken."
Chris Jones, executive pastor of Hamilton's Gateway Church, confirmed Wallace attended the church but said Wallace had no involvement in the youth section of the church.
Jones would not comment when asked if any of the victims were members of the church, saying a statement from the church would be made later this week.
Wallace's death has been referred to the Coroner.
In 2011, in a interview Wallace said he was running programmes to straighten out young bullies.
READ MORE:
* Bullies turn to martial arts
At the time he said 15 of approximately 100 children and teenagers who came to his Frankton martial arts gym were bullies who had harassed or assaulted other children.
He said that children who bullied others usually need boundaries, discipline and to learn respect for others - all of which are offered by sports such as kickboxing, judo, karate and mixed martial arts.
Wallace said teaching bullies martial arts didn't make them better at dishing out beatings - claiming a 100 per cent success rate with reforming bullies.
In many cases, the children "had incredibly brilliant parents", who had been searching for a solution to curb their children's violent behaviour and aggressive attitude.
He believed martial arts, which requires intense training, mental discipline and respect for oneself and others, offered that solution - what he termed "old-school values".
"What I have found, over the years, is the bullies have the lowest self-esteem," he said.
Bullies would be immersed "in the values we have at the school - wanting to achieve, wanting to be recognised".
Wallace said a violent 13-year-old, on the verge of being removed from his school, had been brought to Incorporated Martial Arts to try to modify the boy's behaviour.
"His temper had got out of control, " he said.
Wallace said stroppy or aggressive children quickly learned to respect him and other instructors, and that filtered back to parents.
"I get parents ringing me saying, hey, can you just get Jimmy to do his homework? They have a respect here."
- Stuff
Reply With Quote