KEY POINTS:
A "flag of hope" in his pre-sentence report kept a 43-year-old sex offender from being sent to the High Court where a more serious sentence could be imposed.
Christchurch District Court Judge Jane Farish sentenced Andrew Ngati Marr to 11 years in prison with a non-parole period of four years six months, Christchurch Court News website reported.
She suggested he undertake programmes that would be available to him in prison, and said he had to do a Kia Marama course for sex offenders before he could be released.
Marr, a beneficiary, was convicted at a jury trial of the rape of a 10-year-old girl in a small Waikato town in June 2004.
Crown prosecutor Lisa Preston told the court that Marr continued absolutely denying the offence and showed no remorse nor responsibility.
Defence counsel Simon Shamy told how after Marr previously offended in 2001 he sought a Stop programme for himself, and then turned himself in to the police.
Marr was now a changed man with a new wife, and had on-going community support.
Judge Farish said Marr needed a serious amount of help.
She told how the victim now self-harmed and had been admitted to Starship Hospital's mental health unit in Auckland. She could not be left alone with men she did not know.
The judge said she had read two letters in support of Marr, and that a health assessor's report requested by the court had told how there were emerging patterns lowering Marr's risk factors.
Mrs Preston referred to a "flag of hope" in one of the pre-sentence reports.
Judge Farish told Marr that if he came before the courts again he would get preventive detention.
- NZPA
