Man jailed for child sex offences

A woman sexually abused by a Central Otago businessman when she was a child says ‘‘nobody deserves’’ what happened to her.

The 61-year-old man gave no emotion when he was sentenced by the Dunedin District Court yesterday to 12 years and four months’ jail, with a minimum nonparole of six years and two months.

He was also ordered to pay his four victims $5000 each.

Judge Michael Crosbie said the man’s offending was a ‘‘gross breach of trust’’.

‘‘The have suffered real harm and the effects of that harm was made very clear . . . when they faced the court.’’

The man, who was granted name suppression to protect the identities of his victims, denied sexually abusing four girls – aged between 3 and 14 – over 11 years.

He was found guilty in October of nine charges, including unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault and three counts of rape.

One of the women said the night she was abused was ‘‘the most horrific night of my life’’.

It left her feeling alienated, depressed and impacted future relationships.

‘‘Nobody deserves this, I did not deserve this,’’ she said.

Another victim, now 21, said the offending had affected her confidence.

She suffered flashbacks, battled drug addiction, and was hospitalised after not eating due to her drug dependency. ‘‘I don’t know why he did this to me,’’ she said. ‘‘My whole life has been affected.’’

Crown prosecutor Robin Bates noted the offender had shown no remorse and thought he had been ‘‘set-up’’.

The man had since written letters of apology to his victims.

Judge Crosbie said the letters ‘‘fall short’’ of the man accepting what he had done.

They were more a reflection of the position he found himself in, rather than showing genuine remorse, the judge said.

Defence counsel Bill Dawkins said the man recently sold his truck to get money to pay each victim $5000 in reparations, which was accepted.