Man jailed 13 years for sex abuse

A Te Puke farmworker who repeatedly sexually abused two young boys has been jailed for 13 years and must serve at least six of them before he can apply for parole.

Gregory Bray, 37, who was found guilty at trial in June of four counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and two counts of male assaults a child, was sentenced in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday by Judge Thomas Ingram.

The charges are all representative counts, which means the abuses against the two male victims, who are aged under 14, occurred more than once.

Bray's offending, which he continues to deny, occurred between May and August 2009 in Te Puke.

To ensure his victims kept quiet about the abuse Bray would give them money, toys, and food.

Bray's offending came to light in November 2009 after the victims disclosed the abuse to family members who then laid a compliant with police. Crown prosecutor Julie O'Brien sought a jail sentence of at least 16 years and said Bray continued to deny his offending and had been assessed as at medium to high risk of re-offending without rehabilitative interventions.

Bray's lawyer Craig Horsley argued a prison sentence starting at 13 years was within range.

Judge Ingram said reports confirmed that Bray had experienced some difficulties in life and Bray had given evidence that he had been sexually abused in his past.

Judge Ingram said he was prepared to allow Bray, who had no relevant past convictions, a discount of two years for his previous general good character, the disadvantages he had suffered in life, his background and his "somewhat diminished intellectual capacity".

"In my view a minimum non-parole period of six years is necessary to met the requirements in the Sentencing Act which includes the need to deter you and others from this type of offending and to protect the community from you," Judge Ingram said.