Military’s attitude fuelled rapist, High Court hears

Sam Hurley

The insistence of the Defence Force to deal with everything in-house contributed to a former sergeant’s sexual crimes at an Auckland military base during the 1980s, a court has heard.

The claim comes as the Defence Force is being sued for compensation by a former enlisted woman over its alleged failure to act against the noncommissioned officer.

Robert Richard Roper’s offending occurred between 1976 and 1988 when he served with the Air Force at its Whenuapai base in Hobsonville.

The 72-year-old was sentenced in 2015 to 13 years’ prison for 20 sex charges against five women.

His crimes were revealed at the end of 2012 — 23 years after he left the military — when his daughter Karina Andrews told police her father was abusing her from the age of 6.

Roper, who still denies the offending, lost his appeal against his convictions and sentence in 2016.

Over a week-and-a-half in the High Court at Auckland, Justice Rebecca Edwards has heard the woman’s claims against Roper and the Crown.

She is one of nine who have come forward since he was first charged.

She alleges she was attacked while her commanding officers did nothing.

Her counsel Graeme Little said it was only the civilian police which took steps to hold Roper accountable.

Crown lawyer Antonia Fisher, QC, told the court to see “the need for caution when considering allegations so long ago”.