A man who raped and sexually abused children as young as five over an 11-year period has been jailed for eight and a half years.
Robert Henry Nepia, 40, admitted 19 representative charges of rape, sexual violation and indecent assault.
In the High Court in Auckland today, crown prosecutor Kate Latimer said
the sexual offences occurred from 1979 until 1990. All the victims were young and vulnerable and some force was used.
Some of his victims wanted nothing to do with the case and wanted only to get on with their lives.
The report on another victim painted graphic details of the impact the offending had had on her life.
"It continues to this very day," Ms Latimer told the court.
For Nepia, Lester Cordwell said he accepted he was going to prison but he had shown a lot of insight into the crimes, considering he was illiterate and considering the "awful, awful childhood he had".
He was very keen to get into a sex offender's programme in prison.
Judge Mark Cooper told Nepia all but one of the charges was representative.
One of the victims said because of the abuse she despised men, hated sex and "felt like a useless failure."
The judge told Nepia he had lived on a benefit for most of his life, drunk heavily and taken drugs. Two years ago he gave up drinking and drugs for the sake of his children but that did not excuse his "wicked" conduct toward his young victims.
He abused their trust and threatened one with killing her parents if she told.
The repeated rape of a young child called for the strongest denunciation.
"Your activities caused significant and lasting hurt," the judge told Nepia.
- NZPA
