Convicted sex offender continues his denials
A Christchurch man has begun a 12-year 9-month jail term still maintaining his innocence on 20 child sex offences against two victims.
Defence counsel Allister Davis said he accepted that Raymond Christopher Adams’ continuing denials meant that any credit “goes out the window”.
“My client has given me very strict instructions to say that he doesn’t accept the verdicts,” he said.
Adams, 47, was found guilty at a Christchurch District Court jury trial of attempted rape, eight charges of indecent assault on a girl aged under 12, seven of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, and four of doing indecent acts with girls aged under 12 and 16.
Seventeen of the 20 guilty findings were majority verdicts. He was discharged on 10 further charges during the trial, and acquitted on two.
Mr Davis told Judge Alistair Garland: “I submit that once you take the emotion out this case – I accept unreservedly that it’s a highly charged case – it isn’t offending at the top end.”
Crown prosecutor Kathy Basire said the prosecution sought a sentence of 13 years imprisonment for Adams. She said both victims were present at the court for the sentencing.
Judge Garland said the victims had been as young and eight and 10 years at the time of some of the offending by Adams.
He noted that Adams denied the offending and alleged the complainants had “concocted” their stories.
There was a need to hold him accountable for the harm he had done to the victims, denounce his conduct, and impose a deterrent sentence.
Both victims had been vulnerable because of their age. They had since had thoughts of self-harm and suicide and had undergone counselling. “It is clear that your offending has caused chronic stress and anxiety for both of these young women,” he said.
Adams stood in the dock, mainly with his eyes closed, while Judge Garland listed the various jail terms. He imposed a minimum non-parole term of six years and four months.
Category: Focus
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