Greymouth man jailed for rape of 17-year-old male

A man has been jailed for seven years for the male rape of a 17-year-old youth.

Shane Dion Dibben, 26, had been convicted of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, as well as two further charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and escaping custody.

In March, Dibben was found guilty by a Greymouth District Court jury of eight sex-related offences.

A victim impact statement read out in the court yesterday on behalf of the victim, who has name suppression and was not in court, said he had had to have lots of time off work and had difficulty sleeping.

He struggled to socialise with his mates and was no longer able to trust anyone. The assault had affected all of his relationships.

"I used to love music, the West Coast was a place of freedom, the bush, the birds, but I don't want to go there any more. The West Coast was a safe free place, it's not a good place for me now," the victim said.

He still had whanau on the West Coast and could not see them any more because of the memory.

Judge David Saunders gave Dibben a second-strike warning that his sentence would be served without parole.

He noted that Dibben was about seven years older than his victim.

"During the hearing the court heard that the victim consented to anal intercourse for a rent payment -- I don't accept he was willing or consented to this act," Judge Saunders said.

The victim was a vulnerable person who was clearly injured in a way that "was not consistent to consensual activity".

Dibben was sentenced to six years and six months for the rape, and a further six months for taking the motor vehicle and escaping custody.

- Greymouth Star