A sex offender could spend the rest of his life in jail after he was sentenced today for a spate of attacks and sex crimes including rape.
Palmerston North resident Francis Keefe, 34, had earlier pleaded guilty to 24 charges involving rape, burglary, attempted rape, unlawful sexual connection, and indecent assaults, police said.
Police launched an investigation, 'Operation City', into the "intruder sexual offences" in Palmerston North committed between January 2013 and January 2015.
Keefe was sentenced in the High Court today at Palmerston North today to preventative detention with a minimum non-parole period of eight years.
"The result will hopefully have some closure for the victims involved," said Detective Sergeant Johnny Oram of Palmerston North Criminal Investigation Branch.
Some of Keefe's victims were present at the sentencing, police said, and Mr Oram wanted to acknowledge the strength they showed throughout the process.
"A thorough investigation by a dedicated team of officers meant the extent of Mr Keefe's offending was able to be pieced together.
"The assistance police received from the community during this time was greatly appreciated," Mr Oram added.
Keefe was sentenced on one rape charge, five of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, three of attempted rape, two indecent assaults, two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual violation, one aggravated burglary, eight burglaries, and two thefts.
"The incidents mostly followed the same pattern, whereby you would gain entry into a house late at night or in the early hours of the morning, before proceeding to accost a young woman and sexually assault her," Justice Jillian Mallon said.
"The overall scale of the offending was very high, involving 10 incidents and eight victims carried out one after the other almost monthly, except for the period when you were in prison for another burglary committed during this time."
The offending involved 10 incidents over nearly two years, between Waitangi Day 2013 and January 15 this year.
Keefe entered 10 different homes and there were 10 different victims, aged between 19 and 26.
Justice Mallon said Keefe had 36 previous convictions.
These included nine burglaries, three common assaults, and other dishonesty, alcohol and driving offences.
"As the clinical psychologist put it, your offending history has noticeably increased in both frequency and severity since 1998. It has escalated to include sexual offending," Justice Mallon said.
"I am satisfied that the harm to the community caused by the offending is serious."