Man admits 41 sexual abuse charges

A Tauranga information technology manager has admitted 41 sexual abuse charges against four young girls.
Richard Anthony Clark, 42, appeared in Tauranga District Court today and pleaded guilty to 17 charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and nine charges of indecently assaulting a child.
He also pleaded guilty to 14 charges of indecently assaulting a young person and one charge of meeting a young person following sexual grooming.
The sexual violation charges alone attract a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment.
The charges relate to three complainants.
According to court documents, the complainants said the abuse occurred in the Bay of Plenty and/or Auckland and overseas between 2000 and July 2010.
Some of the offences between March 2000 and March 2003 were said to have taken place in the Bay of Plenty Times office where Clark worked.
Clark was remanded in custody by Judge Merelina Burnett until sentencing on January 18. Judge Burnett called for a pre-sentence report and victim impact statements.