The mother of a young boy who was sexually abused pleaded for a judge to "stop the cycle of abuse" by sending her son's teenage abuser to jail.
She made the plea as she read her victim impact statement in Tauranga District Court yesterday during the sentencing hearing for Dillon Atwood,
18, who earlier admitted one charge each of indecent assault and unlawful sexual connection with a boy aged under 12.
The court was told Atwood's offending took place twice in October 2009, after earlier showing his victim pornographic images.
On one occasion the boy woke up to find his pyjamas down and Atwood was molesting him.
The mother said her son was now a "dark shadow of himself" and had mood swings ranging from being completely withdrawn to having violent outbursts.
Judge Rollo Peter said he took into account Atwood's lack of previous convictions, his age and willingness to seek rehabilitation when he imposed a sentence of 12 months' home detention and 300 hours' community work.
Atwood was ordered to also pay his victim $1500 emotional harm.
