A sobbing Hastings teenager was yesterday spared a prison sentence on a charge which carries a maximum of 20 years' jail after admitting a charge of raping a friend as she slept in her home.
Appearing in the Napier District Court, the 18-year-old, who had no previous history with police or the courts, was instead sentenced to 12 months' home detention, after Judge Jan Kelly was told the victim did not want him to go jail, and that the events were only revealed after the youth told someone else.
Aged 17 at the time, she said in a victim impact statement that was not read to the court, that she now wanted only that he could get help to ensure he wouldn't offend against someone else later in life.
Defence counsel Cam Robertson emphasised the youth's admissions, remorse, and concessions, including a comment in one report saying after he had read the victim impact statement he was sorry and he "should have treated her better".
With members of both families in the public gallery, Crown prosecutor Clayton Walker described it as an "unfortunate case all round", and Judge Kelly said it was "a very sad case" and "one of those that is terrible for both the victim and the defendant".