Serial sex attacker jailed indefinitely

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

CHRISTCHURCH - A serial sex attacker was today jailed indefinitely.

Christopher Dean Matthews was told by Justice Christine French in the High Court at Christchurch the sentence was necessary for the protection of the women of the city.

"Preventive detention guarantees that you will not be released until your risk of offending has been adequately addressed," said the judge.

"You pose a risk to women in almost any situation where they are alone."

Matthews pleaded guilty to sex attacks on girls, aged 15 and 13, in Christchurch in September 2008.

The older was abducted and sexually violated and the 13-year-old girl sexually attacked two weeks later.

Matthews had previously been jailed for nine years in 1994 after being convicted of two rapes.

He was also acquitted of a rape in a park at trial in 2007, and another girl withdrew withdrawn a sexual complaint against him.

Justice French said she could not take those matters into account at the sentencing.

Crown prosecutor Kerryn Beaton described Matthews as predatory and said the violence in his offending was escalating, with the use of strangulation.

"There is a real risk of fatality or serious injury arising from that type of intense assault."

Defence counsel Simon Shamy argued that a finite jail term should be imposed.

Health assessors found that Matthews was likely to be a high risk "without intervention" and said he may benefit from assessment and treatment at the Kia Marama programme while in prison.

Mr Shamy accepted that it was horrendous offending which merited a long prison term, but he said Matthews' remorse was genuine and he was willing to undergo treatment.

Justice French said Matthews continued to deny the earlier rapes, blaming the police and the witnesses.

He denied elements of the later offending as well, and said he could not remember what happened.

She said preventive detention was designed to protect the community from those who posed an on-going risk.

"Women are entitled to feel safe and secure in their homes, and when walking down the street or in a public car park."

She imposed the preventive detention sentence with a non-parole term of 10 years, and told Matthews: "Nor do I consider you only a borderline candidate for preventive detention."

She said the sentence provided a real incentive for offenders to seek assistance.

Matthews has always appeared in court well dressed in a business suit.

He remained impassive throughout and only gave a small nod of acknowledgement to the judge as he was sent from the court to begin his indefinite jail term.

- NZPA