Man sentenced for sex with sister

A young man who repeatedly had sex with his younger sister and indecently assaulted another younger sister was this week sentenced to intensive supervision.

In Whanganui District Court on Monday, the teenager, who has permanent name suppression, admitted charges of sexual connection with a young person and performing an indecent act on a child.

The court heard that from 2006 the defendant, then aged 12, and the older victim shared a room with separate beds and he would climb into her bed, touch her indecently and then have sex with her. Judge David Cameron said this would happen as often as fortnightly.

After the family moved to a new address, the defendant and victim had separate rooms but the offending continued.

On two occasions the two were left alone in the house and the defendant initiated sexual intercourse. Judge Cameron said the victim didn't say anything on either occasion to stop it out of fear of the defendant.

The court also heard the other sister, six years younger than the defendant, was the victim of an indecent assault when she was aged nine.

The defendant showed no emotion as he stood in the dock.

Judge Cameron said the defendant could only be sentenced for offences committed after his 14th birthday as he was not legally liable for offences before then.

Judge Cameron said the defendant had five previous convictions for dishonesty and violence but "notably" none of a sexual nature.

He said the court had received no victim impact statements but said the older victim was "sympathetic to his predicament" and did not wish him to go to prison.

Judge Cameron said imprisonment and home detention were not options as the defendant was under 17 when the offences were committed. He said the pre-sentence report indicated the defendant was at low risk of reoffending as long as the opportunity for treatment was taken up.

The defendant was sentenced to two years' intensive supervision, to reside at a certain residence and not move unless probation was notified, to undertake a psychological assessment and counselling to the satisfaction of probation and the psychologist, and to attend a treatment programme.

He was also ordered not to have contact with the two victims without prior written consent from probation and that he was to have no contact with anyone under 16 unless directly supervised by an informed adult. Judge Cameron also ordered the defendant be assessed for and complete a sex offenders' programme.