Boss coerced employee into extreme sex acts
An employer who indulged his extreme sexual fantasies with a vulnerable worker has been found guilty of abuse.
The man, whose name and business is suppressed, had started an affair with a woman just coming out of a long-term abusive relationship.
In 2020, he would have sex with her at work or nearby and began introducing more and more extreme sex practices.
Judge James Johnston of the Wellington District Court said in a decision released to the media that the affair between the pair had begun as consensual, but the woman started to say no when he wanted to do things she did not like.
The judge said the man would continue despite her saying no. ‘‘In short he took the opportunity to take advantage of the complainant by manipulating her to fulfil his sexual fantasies.’’
The man was an intelligent businessman and she was very vulnerable, he said.
The judge found the man guilty of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and indecent assault after a judgealone trial last month.
The defendant had pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The Crown had said there was a significant power imbalance between the two. She was exiting an abusive relationship, was his employee and had an inability to say no to the boss.
During the course of the affair the victim did not think the man was serious about some of the kinkier practices he was suggesting but played along. But during some of the more extreme encounters, which included defecation and urination, he would not stop when she said no.
The defence had said she had consented to everything but now regretted it.
The man also initially claimed she had supplied him with laced cannabis that had led to his interest in the extreme practices.
The judge remanded the man on bail for sentencing.
A decision will be made on continuing name suppression at that hearing.
The man has a previous conviction for sexual abuse.