Former Scout leader jailed on sex charges

Graham William Morine has been jailed for seven years and seven months. Photo/File

A former Scout Group leader who sparked an Armed Offenders Squad callout in Papamoa after trying to self-harm has been jailed for molesting two young people.

Graham William Morine, 77, who pleaded guilty to four representative charges on December 8, was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court today on two charges each of indecent assault and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.

The charges stem from offending against two young complainants in the Tauranga and Rotorua areas, which the Crown says happened regularly.

Morine failed to appear in court on December 6 to plead to the charges and Judge Paul Mabey QC issued a warrant for his arrest.

The next day, police went to Morine's Allan Pl home and found he had self-harmed.

He was taken to Tauranga Hospital for treatment.

The Armed Offenders Squad was called to help.

A frail-looking Morine pleaded guilty to the charges after he arrived at court on the afternoon of December 8 in the company of two police officers.

Judge Christopher Harding sentenced Morine to seven years and seven months in jail, with a non-parole period of four years.