12.40pm
A man described as a "sexual animal" was jailed for 18 years in the High Court at Auckland today for a series of attacks on young women, one only 11 years old.
Ropati Latwer, 31, admitted 28 charges.
The officer in charge of the inquiry, Detective Sergeant Jill Rogers said later Latwer
virtually destroyed the lives of his victims who will take years to recover.
She said police were very relieved the victims did not have to endure the trauma of the trial which was due to begin next month before Latwer changed his plea to guilty.
"He is just an animal. It was the most degrading offending he did. It was cruel. He made the kids beg."
Ms Rogers said the victims, aged 11, 16 and 18, feared for their lives during the daylight attacks.
"These were innocent kids going about their day-to-day thing. They were totally unsuspecting and have had their lives destroyed."
Latwer admitted charges of kidnapping, abduction, rape, sexual violation, threatening to kill, threatening to cause grievous bodily harm, assault with a weapon and indecent assault.
Ms Rogers said the emotional impact on her and the police team was huge because of the type of offending.
Ms Rogers said today's convictions showed the value of the DNA databank.
"This has highlighted that we were able to catch up with him before he continued on (with sex attacks) because I have no doubt he would have,' she said.
- NZPA
