The partner of a Napier mother charged under new child abuse laws has been sentenced to eight years and five months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to sexually abusing her daughter for six years.
The Napier man, who cannot be named as it would identify the victim, appeared before Judge Tony Adeane this morning in the Napier District Court to be sentenced on five counts of unlawful sexual connection, one of rape, two of indecent assault and two for sexual connection with a young person.
It is believed the mother is one of the first to be charged under new child abuse laws that involve being a member of the same household as her daughter knowing she was at risk of sexual assault and rape but failing to take reasonable steps to protect her.
At sentencing, the court heard the offending began with an isolated act of digital penetration when the victim was just 9-years-old and and further offending occurred between the ages of 11 and 13-years-old.
The man, who cried in the dock as the judge spoke, had been in a relationship with the victim's mother for 14 years and had been an otherwise hard-working and contributing member of society.
