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Jailed ex-cop John Dewar says he'll never admit wrongdoing for the way he handled Louise Nicholas' rape complaint.
The 55-year-old self-employed father-of-four was sentenced on Friday to four-and-a-half years' jail after being found guilty in August on four charges of attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice. The maximum sentence faced was seven years for each of the charges.
Speaking exclusively to the Herald on Sunday just days before sentencing, Dewar confirmed he would appeal his conviction and sentence, on the basis the judge and jury "got it wrong" and he was "an innocent man going to jail".
"I'll never give up on this, and that is not through stubborness, but because of absolute, total innocence and knowing that I did a good job. There has never been a cover-up. It is not in my nature," Dewar said.
"As long as there are processes and systems in place, I will pursue those. Whatever the justice system says, I will go to my grave knowing that I didn't do any wrong."
He was aware that could present difficulties when he came up for parole, as an admission of guilt is generally required before granting early release from prison. "That is something I will have to face at the time, but it will be an issue. I will never admit guilt."
Dewar was chief inspector of the Rotorua CIB when Nicholas approached police in 1993, alleging she was sexually assaulted by police officers Clint Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum.
The Crown alleged Dewar suppressed allegations Nicholas made against the three men and tried to pervert the course of justice during the rape trial of a former policeman, who has permanent name suppression, by giving inadmissible evidence.
Nicholas alleged the man had sexually assaulted her, then aged 13, which led to two mistrials before a third trial acquitted him. It was during those trials that allegations against Shipton, Schollum and Rickards first came to light.
In the High Court at Hamilton on Friday, Justice Rodney Hansen rejected the motive put forward by the defence - that Dewar was acting to protect Nicholas - and accepted the Crown's argument he was covering up for Schollum, Shipton and Rickards.
Dewar had a "remarkable capacity for self-delusion and avoidance which may have explained his conduct", he said.
But Dewar told the Herald on Sunday he believed he had acted in Nicholas' best interests 14 years ago. At the time, he wasn't convinced she was telling the truth about Rickards, Shipton and Schollum and was worried about what repercussions that could have on her if the matter went to trial.
"I came to the conclusion that the sexual acts with Rickards, Shipton and Schollum were consensual," he said.
"Police knew Nicholas wasn't a truthful person, but they accepted everything she has said. Rickards was absolutely right when he said he would have been embarrassed to have run this investigation. The resources that went into this by the state were unprecedented. I could never stand up against that might."
Before Friday's sentencing, Dewar filed a complaint of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice against Nicholas with Police Commissioner Howard Broad. Dewar wants a full police investigation into his claims with a view to proving there is sufficient evidence for police to mount a case against Nicholas.
He also claims his complaint will highlight alleged inconsistencies in Nicholas' statements.
Nicholas maintains there is no substance to either the appeal or the perjury complaint.
Dewar believed if the complaint was handled independently and without interference from the Operation Austin team it would be upheld and Nicholas would eventually go to trial.
He described Nicholas as a "scorpion", and said he was still upset by the way she had betrayed him when he tried to act in her best interests.
