Thirteen years’ jail for rapes and assaults

A man found guilty of raping a woman and assaulting children has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Judge Peter Rollo handed down the punishment in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday.

The man, who has permanent name suppression, also threatened and ill-treated two children.

He was on trial before the judge, without a jury, facing 17 charges relating to sexual and physical offending against a woman and two children. The man was found guilty of three counts of rape, two of assault with intent to injure, as well as committing an indecent act on a child, threatening to kill, assault with a weapon and assaulting a child.

He denied all wrongdoing. During the trial, the woman described many instances of sexual, physical and emotional abuse the man inflicted.

A girl gave evidence about assaults, which she said started when she was younger than 10.

The man was violent towards her, hitting her all over her body, she said. In a video interview, a boy said the man would often become angry, and would yell and swear, before carrying out assaults.

As the sentence was handed down the man stood in the dock, shaking his head at times.

Rollo said this was serious offending of a sexual nature.

He said the man had given what he considered was a fabricated view of the situation. ‘‘It was not agreed on by any other person.’’

Rollo said victim impact statements showed the serious effects of the offending.

He said the man must serve at least 61⁄2 years’ jail.

The woman described many instances of sexual, physical and emotional abuse the man inflicted.