A Wairarapa man has gone on trial today for the historic rape and sexual assault of a five-year-old girl.
The man, who was granted name suppression, appeared in Wellington District Court this morning facing charges dating back to 1999 of rape, assault and unlawful sexual connection with achild under 12.
Crown prosecutor Ian Murray said the man, then a teenager, "opportunistically" took advantage of the girl while her parents socialised at his family home.
Mr Murray said the girl was assaulted on a number of occasions including one instance when she was being cared for by the accused and his girlfriend at the time.
A complaint was only made to police after the girl, now 13, undertook a self defence course.
