Man admits rape of disabled teen
A 20-year-old man who has admitted the rape of an intellectually disabled teenager while she slept has been warned not to “take anything” from being granted bail pending sentencing – he will certainly be jailed.
The Crown sentencing was set for April 13 by Christchurch District Court Judge Paul Kellar after the man pleaded guilty to one rape charge. The Crown dropped other charges of rape and unlawful sexual connection.
Defence counsel Bryan Green applied for bail for the man during the sentencing remand, and Judge Kellar granted it when the Crown prosecutor, Barnaby Hawes, said there was no objection.
Judge Kellar ruled out any home detention sentence by declining to seek the necessary pre-sentence assessment. He told the man: “Imprisonment for more than two years is inevitable. You are not to take anything from the fact that you are being admitted to bail in the meantime.”
He also gave the man a first strike warning under the system that imposes heavier penalties on repeat sexual and violent offenders.
The Crown said that the man got into bed with an intellectual disabled teenage girl while she slept. She remained asleep while he removed her lower clothing and had sex.
He later told the police that sex had only lasted 30 seconds before he realised it was wrong, and stopped. He was aware of the girl’s intellectual disability and knew that she would not know what sex was, and would not have wanted it to occur.
Because of the victim’s intellectual disability, specialists will be called in if a restorative justice meeting can take place, and to prepare the victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing.
Judge Kellar granted interim name suppression.
Category: Focus
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