Abuser groomed girl for sex over 18 months

A man who spent 18 months grooming a teenaged girl for sex and sexually assaulted her in her own home received a stiff prison sentence and a stern lecture from the judge.

David Smith's behaviour was "a planned programme of sexual abuse", Judge Denys Barry said yesterday in the Wellington District Court. He said it had torn apart the life of the girl, leaving her angry, disturbed, depressed and probably scarred for life.

"You've destroyed her innocence and trust," the judge said.

The judge delivered his remarks as Smith's mother, and the victim and her mother, watched from the courtroom gallery.

Judge Barry jailed Smith, 40, of Lower Hutt, for five years and three months. The sentence was higher than that requested by the prosecutor in her remarks to the court.

Smith pleaded guilty in June to a charge of indecent assault and two counts of unlawful sexual connection with a female, aged 12 to 16.

The charges were representative, meaning the acts occurred at least once and probably a number of times.

The judge acknowledged that Smith had not actually raped the girl but said his behaviour was nearly as bad.

"The effect on your victim is virtually the equivalent of rape," he said.

Smith abused the girl over an 18-month period until August 2005, Judge Barry said.

He began with nudity, and touching and kissing the girl.

He progressed to rubbing against her while touching himself, touching his mouth to her genitals and digital penetration.

"The backdrop to this was pervasive and obsessive manipulation of the victim's and mother's lives," the judge said.

Smith eventually went too far, suggesting to the girl that they have full sexual intercourse.

She told her mother, who went straight to the police.

Smith had 60 previous criminal convictions, including drink-driving, theft and burglary, intimidation, assaulting a female and threatening to kill, Judge Barry said.

The judge thanked the victim and her family for attending the sentencing and said it was good to have them be part of the process.

"It's not just the lawyers and me talking together," he said.

At the end of the sentencing Smith's mother turned to the victim's mother, smiled, and gave her a hug.

- NZPA