Man jailed for 12 years for sex abuse

An Auckland man was today for 12 years for sexually abusing two girls aged under 12 in the 1990s and then getting the girls to drop the complaints against him.

Danny Michael Boyd, 45, was found guilty of 10 sex charges by a jury in the High Court at Auckland in May, including five charges of sexual violation and five charges of indecent assault, following incidents between 1992 and 1999.

One girl was aged between six and 11 and the other aged between four and 10 when the offences were committed.

They included anal violation, oral sexual connection, indecent touching of the girls and forcing them to touch him sexually.

Boyd was also found guilty of two charges of dissuading the girls by threats or other means from giving evidence.

In victim impact reports read out to the court today the girls described the experiences they endured from Boyd when they were young.

Sentencing him Justice Pamela Andrews said imprisonment was appropriate and inevitable.

"You continue to maintain your innocence. You told a probation officer that the girls made allegations for the purpose of revenge and to seek compensation money.

"Because of the nature and severity of your offending, you are considered to be at a high risk of further offending. I have to hold you accountable for your actions."

Boyd was first charged after the girls made a complaint in early 1999 but were dropped after he persuaded them to withdraw their statements.

- NZPA