A male caregiver is facing a raft of charges that allege he sexually abused disabled children and youth while they were in his care.
The man, who cannot be named, is standing trial in the Napier District Court this week after allegedly abusing four complainants with significant impairments and disabilities over the course of several years.
He is charged with five counts of sexually exploiting a person with a significant impairment, six of rape, two of indecent assault and three each of attempted sexual violation and sexual conduct with a child under 12-years-old. Most of these charges are representative.
Crown prosecutor Jo Rielly opened the Crown's case yesterday by telling the jury the complainants were placed in his care by a variety of agencies including Child, Youth and Family and Idea Services.
At times, they were in the sole care of the defendant and it was during these periods that he sexually abused them, the court heard.