Former Salvation Army man guilty of sex offences

A former Salvation Army man has been found guilty by a jury in the High Court in Hamilton today of seven charges of sexually and indecently assaulting four women.

Former Waihi and Tauranga Salvation Army captain Maxwell Lawrence Trimble, 64, of Waihi, had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of sexually and indecently assaulting the women between December 2003 and February 2005.

One of the charges was withdrawn during the hearing.

The jury took five hours to reach its decision and when the verdicts were read to the court Timble's wife shouted: "I love you."

Trimble was remanded in custody for sentence on June 8.

One of the victims had earlier told the court Trimble had fondled her breast and put his hand down her pants while helping her write a letter.

Another said he had threatened to fail her on her probation conditions unless she had sex with him.

Another woman said she was forced to have oral sex with Trimble.

- NZPA