Brave teen tells of years of abuse

Reported on December 15, 2006

A judge praised the “incredible bravery” of a 16-year-old boy who read his victim impact statement in court before 61-year-old Royce Herbert Andrews was jailed for 13 years for inflicting years of sexual abuse on two young complainants.

The praise came from Judge Michael Crosbie in the Christchurch District Court where Andrews had admitted 21 charges of indecency, sexual violation, and one of attempted sodomy. The abuse had begun when the boys were aged seven and nine, and was spread over eight years.

The judge imposed a minimum non-parole term of seven years, telling the downcast Andrews: “The effect of your conduct has been devastating.”

The 16-year-old wept and shook as he told the court of how Andrews had taken away his childhood, and how he had gone on to overdose, and harm himself. Even in hospital he had pushed needles into himself and broken them off to try to take away the pain – but it never did.

Andrews, a driver who had lived in Christchurch and Nelson, had originally faced 24 charges, but three had been dropped when he pleaded guilty to the rest after the depositions hearing.

Crown prosecutor Jane Farish said: “The comments he’s made to the probation officer indicate this man really has no idea of the extent of harm and damage he has caused.” She described it as gross and demeaning offending.

Defence counsel Tony Garrett also acknowledged the significant courage shown by the victim in publicly reading the statement. He said Andrews’ guilty pleas had been entered at a late stage, after negotiations, but represented a significant turning point for the victims.

Judge Crosbie said: “The words written in the older boy’s victim impact statement simply lifted off the page when he spoke today. He needs to understand and come to terms with the fact that he has done nothing wrong at all. He is a victim in every sense of the word.”

The other victim is now aged 12.

“One young man and one boy are going to need considerable assistance, counselling and help to get them through this,” said the judge.

He noted Andrews had no previous convictions, but this was offset by the long period of the offending. He could detect no sign of remorse.

Andrews told the probation officer that he had never forced or coerced the boys, and said they were not sexually naïve. But Judge Crosbie said modern children’s exposure to sexuality through the media did not equate to a lack of sexual naivety. “They were children,” he said. “The harm caused is incalculable and likely to be lifelong.”

The last word at the sentencing came from a man – not one of the complainants – who shouted from the courtroom’s public seats as Andrews was taken to the cells: “I hope you rot in there.”

 

Reported on December 15, 2006