A former Taupo bus driver has been sentenced to nine years' jail after pleading guilty to sexual offences on a girl under 12.
David Triggs, 63, admitted representative charges of indecent assault on a girl aged between 7 and 10 at the time, unlawful sexual connection and rape.
The offences tookplace between July 1997 and August 2000 in Palmerston North.
Triggs, who appeared in the Rotorua District Court before Judge Phillip Cooper, broke down crying in the dock as he entered pleas of guilty.
"He is supported by his partner, friends and family in court, and is genuinely remorseful about these offences," his lawyer Ian Farquhar said. "He suffered from his own depression and has experienced sexual abuse when he was a young man. This court knows that people who have been through that quite often are engaged in it themselves, history repeating itself.
"He's a hard-working member and well respected in the community," Mr Farquhar said.
The victim and her family were in court for Triggs' sentencing.
Judge Cooper said the victim impact statement from the victim's mother showed such offending had an effect not only on the complainant but the whole family.
"The complainant has written that this has ruined her life, she has had suicidal thoughts and has engaged in destructive behaviour as a teenager," the judge said.
The court received a letter of apology from Triggs and a letter from his counsellor stating he had been subject to abuse.
"You also have a number of references from people who know you, some who are disbelieving of what you have done," Judge Cooper said. "The fact that you yourself were sexually abused really is a background factor and not a mitigating factor."
Judge Cooper took into account Triggs' early guilty pleas, his personal references and prospects for rehabilitation. He was sentenced to nine years jail for rape, six years for unlawful sexual connection and four years for indecent assault. All prison terms will be served concurrently.
