Air Force sergeant fails to have sexual convictions overturned

Robert Richard Roper, 70, was found guilty at trial on 20 sex charges against five girls from the 1970s and 1980s. Photo / Supplied

A former Air Force sergeant has failed in a bid to have a slew of sexual convictions and a 13-year jail term overturned.

Robert Richard Roper, 70, was found guilty at trial on 20 sex charges against five girls from the 1970s and 1980s when he worked at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base in Hobsonville in the transport division.

One of his victims - his daughter Karina Andrews - made the rare decision to have her statutory name suppression lifted and after the trial said she hoped the decision would give others the strength to come forward.

"I want any other victim to know where support is if they need it," she said.

David Jones, QC, on behalf of Roper brought the case before the Court of Appeal arguing there was a miscarriage of justice arising from how the trial judge summarised the case for the jury.

"Although it does not affect the view we take of the grounds of appeal, the evidence against Mr Roper was compelling," the appeal court judges said.

"Not only did each complainant give evidence of the offending against them, but often their accounts were supported by the evidence of others -- other complainants and independent third parties to whom complaints had been made. "

Justices Winkelman, Peters and Collins dismissed the appeal and turned to consider Mr Jones' argument that 13 years imprisonment was "manifestly excessive".

That appeal was also dismissed.

Ms Andrews previously slammed the Air Force after she was interviewed her three times during her childhood without any action being taken against Roper.

In one instance, she was questioned about sexual assault complaints by a padre and a military police officer - but it took place in front of her father.

"Why did they sweep so much information under the carpet? Why did they not do their job properly when he was accused of attempted rape?" she asked.

Subsequent lobbying by Ms Andrews and other victims for an independent enquiry was successful.

In September, the Air Force announced Karen Clark, QC, would head the investigation.

The former deputy solicitor-general has a wealth of legal experience and was involved in the coronial inquest for those who died in the CTV Building and the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Pike River Coal Mine tragedy.