6 years' jail for abuse

A man found guilty of abusing young girls has been sent to jail for 6 years. Photo / File

A Whangarei man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two girls aged between 2 and 12 has been jailed for six years.

Wayne Alexander Cuff sought a sentencing indication in the Whangarei District Court on five charges of indecent assault, two of doing an indecent act, and one of sexual violation to which he later pleaded guilty.

Some of the charges were representative, meaning the abuse happened on more than one occasion. The lead charge of sexual violation carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' jail.

Judge Keith de Ridder said Cuff displayed predatory sexual behaviour involving planning and premeditation.

The victims were extremely vulnerable and the crimes were serious, particularly the sexual violation, he said.

In no way whatsoever should the victims' family feel any sense of responsibility, culpability or failing for the offending, Judge de Ridder said.

"This was entirely your responsibility, entirely your acts ... There was the scale of your offending against two young girls over a significant period of time and the final factor of course is the clear and obvious harm you did."

The judge said Cuff still had the support of his family, had led a worthwhile life in terms of work and had recently arranged to sell his business.

Cuff applied for name suppression on the grounds that naming him would cause extreme hardship to his family. But Judge de Ridder said such assertions were bland and broad. He declined the application.

He imposed concurrent sentences of 22 months in prison on charges of indecent assault and a further nine months on the others. A minimum non parole of three years was imposed on the lead charge.