Offender 'skilled' at finding vulnerable victims

Alan Rubick in the dock. Photo/File

Convicted sex offender Alan Rubick was highly manipulative and skilled at identifying young vulnerable boys, the High Court at Wanganui has been told.

Rubick was today sentenced to preventative detention with a minimum non-parole period of eight years on 10 charges of indecent assault against young boys aged seven to 14, and two years imprisonment on 20 charges of possessing objectionable material.

Rubick's offending occurred in two periods between 1995 and 2001, and 2012 and 2013.

The terms are to be served concurrently.

Crown prosecutor Harry Mallalieu told the court the offending was highly manipulative and targeted vulnerable boys.

"He twisted their view of life and encouraged them to believe what was happening to them occurring was innocent and acceptable," Mr Mallalieu said.

He said Rubick exposed the young boys to pornography, and engaged in masturbation and oral sex. Police found 12,157 objectionable images in Rubick's possession of varying degrees of seriousness.

Victim impact statements read to the court spoke of the disgust and hate for Rubick and the ongoing affect his offending had. Defence lawyer Stephen Ross said Rubick was aware of the long-term harm suffered by victims.

"He is instructed me to apologise but he accepts that apology is unlikely to be accepted and nor should it be."

In sentencing Justice Ron Young acknowledged Rubick's guilty plea but said he showed little remorse. He said Rubick's offending rate seemed to have increased over the years and considered him highly likely to reoffend. Justice Young said Rubick was skilled in identifying vulnerable boys.

"There are eight boys' lives who you have seriously compromised."