Man admits sexual assault on stepdaughter's friend

The man pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault. File photo / NZ Herald

A man who had been on trial accused of raping his stepdaughter's teenage friend has pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault.

The rest of the charges were dismissed yesterday at Napier District Court.

Name suppression lapsed yesterday for the 59-year-old man who can now be revealed as Garry Mabey, a former orchardist.

He had been on trial for the alleged rape of the girl, who was between 16 and 25 at the time she claimed multiple rapes occurred.

Charges of sexual violation by rape were dismissed on Monday when the man pleaded guilty to the indecent assaults.

Mabey has been remanded on bail to reappear in court on October 14 when a sentencing date will be set.

The complainant said the offending stopped in 2000 but it was not reported until 2009 as the now 36-year-old victim did not have the "emotional fortitude" to deal with what had happened to her.