Former Shortland Street star Rene Naufahu had earlier admitted indecently assaulting six women.
The mother of a woman who was indecently assaulted by former Shortland Street actor Lee Rene Naufahu says her daughter will never return to modelling or acting because it had shattered her daughter's trust in the industry.
Naufahu, 47, was sentenced in the Auckland District Court today to one yearof home detention for indecently assaulting six female students in his acting classes between 2011 and 2013.
The mother said her daughter was "devastated" by what happened and news of his sentencing would bring a lot of emotions back up.
"She had counselling six years ago and then the whole thing came up again and she's a complete mess all over again.
"She just becomes quite secluded – she doesn't want to talk about it.
All of the victims were really young women, she said.
Speaking about Naufahu she said it seemed "he wanted to weasel his way out of it".
Former Shortland Street actor Lee Rene Naufahu shattered her daughter's trust in the industry, says the mother of a woman he indecently assaulted. Photo / NZME
Judge Robert Ronayne told the court there was a degree of grooming involved as Naufahu used the excuse of giving acting lessons to gratify himself.
He had been manipulative and had attempted to shift some of the responsibility towards the victims, the judge said.
"Of course they have no reason at all to feel any guilt whatsoever.
"You are the guilty one, not them.
"It was you who breached their trust."
The judge took into account mitigating factors such as Naufahu's lack of relevant convictions and contribution to the acting industry.
Another mitigating factor was suppressed by the judge.
