Jail term for sex offence

Press, 23 April 1986, Page 4

Jail term for sex offence

PA Auckland An Auckland man, aged 33, who had regular sex with his stepdaughter, aged 12, now wants to adopt the girl so that he would not be tempted to molest her again. The man’s counsel, Mr Jim Boyack, told the District Court at Auckland that a legal adoption would reinforce the incest taboo, “creating a barrier which would not be transgressed.” The man, whose name was suppressed, admitted having unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl. He was sentenced on Monday by Judge N. L. Bradford to 254 years jail. Mr Boyack said his client had used no force on the girl, who had given

an “inadvertent invitation” for him to have sex with her. The man believed his stepdaughter was sexually active before the offence, but had promised to God there would be no repetition of the crime.

Judge Bradford said the defendant had had regular sex with the girl last year. The girl told her teacher, then moved with her mother from the family home. The pair later returned, and the offending began again. The girl was now in Social Welfare custody, and would carry scars of the crimes for life, he said.

“In the words of an expert, ‘molesting a child is psychological violence of the worst kind’.”