Victim describes hatred for abuser

A Nelson girl who was sexually assaulted as a child has spoken about how she has since tried to take her own life on a number of occasions.

The girl was 12-years-old when she was first abused, she told a teacher at her school what had happened which led to a complaint being made to police.

Mitchell Jack Laing, 41, was charged with two counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and four of doing an indecent act on a female between the age of 12 and 16.

He was sentenced in the Nelson District Court on Wednesday to six years in prison after being found guilty on all six charges following a jury trial last year.

Laing has continued to deny the offending.

The victim told the court how she struggled to sleep, had constant nightmares and sometimes would wake vomiting. She had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and had tried to end her life.

‘‘I hate you and what you did to me,’’ she told the court. ‘‘Everyone says it’s not my fault I feel this way.

‘‘Your lies make me feel like it is my fault. I shouldn’t have to feel like this because we both know it’s your fault.

‘‘You hurt me in the way I never thought anyone would.’’

A police summary of facts detailed how the abuse began in September 2018.

Laing called the victim into his bedroom, blocked the doorway and told the girl to take her clothes off.

When she refused, he became angry and she eventually removed her clothing.

Laing then sexually violated her and simulated sex with her.

After the incident, he threatened the girl and told her not to tell anyone about what had happened.

After another incident three days later,

She will never be the same and it breaks my heart. Victim’s mother

Laing repeated the threat not to tell anyone.

In a victim impact statement, the girl’s mother said her daughter’s innocence had been stolen, her self-worth destroyed and her spirit broken.

‘‘She will never be the same and it breaks my heart.’’

Her daughter had weekly counselling with a specialist trauma psychologist and was learning coping mechanisms to deal with the abuse and how to constructively express her emotions.

‘‘Before the abuse [she] was a happy, friendly, outgoing and confident girl. Now she is depressed, withdrawn, anxious and introverted.’’

At sentencing, Judge David Ruth told Laing his offending was ‘‘entirely humiliating and degrading’’.

Judge Ruth said it was determined if not premeditated.

He had barricaded the girl in his room and simulated sex with her.

‘‘I have no doubt that your intention was, as she got older, as you threatened, you would have gone further.’’

Laing claimed he had been set up, DNA evidence had been planted and he blamed others for what had happened.

Judge Ruth said Laing was entitled to those views, but called them ‘‘fanciful’’ and said the evidence he had heard, ‘‘simply made those contentions absolute nonsense’’.

Laing had interim name suppression and an application was made for permanent suppression by defence counsel Michael Vesty but that was opposed by the Crown and the victim. As such, Judge Ruth said there was no basis for it to continue.