Rotorua man admits sex charges

One girl attempted suicide and another developed anorexia after being sexually abused by a Rotorua businessman.

The 59-year-old, who has interim name suppression, pleaded guilty in the Rotorua District Court today to 21 charges, including rape. The offending was committed against two girls between 1998 and 2003.

Most of the charges relate to one victim, with three counts of rape, 10 of indecent assault and six of unlawful sexual connection. She was aged between 12 and 16 at the time of the offending. He also admitted two counts of indecently assaulting the other girl, then aged 11.

A number of the charges were representative, meaning the offending happened more than once.

A charge of wounding with intent by stupefying one of his victims was withdrawn by police.

According to the police summary of facts, the offending started when the eldest victim was 12 and "progressively became more abusive" until it was happening on a weekly basis.

The man became controlling of the victim and controlled who she saw, where she went and what she did, the summary said.

In 2000 the abuse of the second victim happened. She later attempted suicide.

"Both victims were extremely traumatised by the offending that occurred," the summary stated.

The elder girl "decided that she needed to allow the accused to continue to offend against her to protect [the other victim]", the summary stated.

It said the girl would pretend to be asleep and "try and take herself to a better place" while the attacks happened.

At one stage she started refusing to eat, "hoping she would become too ugly for the accused". She was later diagnosed with anorexia.

The man told her he "couldn't stop" and the offending was "out of his control".

"He would promise to stop but then continue anyway," the summary stated.

When the girl was 16 she told an adult what was happening and the offending stopped.

The summary said the man admitted to police what he had done, that it was wrong and that the victim was not able to consent.

He had previously appeared before the court, it said.

Judge David Ruth remanded the man in custody to reappear for sentencing on January 16.

His name suppression would remain in place at least until then, he said.