Jailed rapists 'drew teen victim into their web'

Gary Duffin has been sentenced to nine years in prison for indecently assaulting a minor. His co-accused, Sharyn Lee Hills, was sentenced to seven years.

Two Wellington brothel-keepers jailed today for the historic rape of a teenage girl had drawn her into their web and exploited her naivety, a court was told.

Gary John Duffin, father of murdered Lower Hutt schoolgirl Karla Cardno, and wife Sharyn Lee Hills were sentenced in the High Court at Wellington today to prison terms of nine and seven years respectively.

They were found guilty in October of plying the 14-year-old girl with cannabis and valium before raping her in a hotel room, in what the victim described as a "breaking in" to prepare her for servicing up to four clients a day in the couple's brothels.

The jury also found Duffin guilty of indecent assault, through touching the girl's genital area, between May 1991 and December 1992.

Duffin was also found guilty of an additional charge of sexual violation, for later rubbing himself up against the girl's groin when briefing her for her first job in the couple's Mt Victoria brothel.

Hills and Duffin were found not guilty of two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.

Justice Warwick Gendall sentenced Duffin to a total nine years in prison: eight years for rape, two years for sexual violation, to be served concurrently, and one year also concurrently for supplying cannabis and one year to be served consecutively for supplying drugs to a minor.

Hills was sentenced to a total of seven years: six years for the rape, and one year each for separate charges of supplying drugs to a minor.

Duffin's lawyer Greg King said his admission of guilt on the drugs charges, and the profound impact of his daughter's death should be taken into account in sentencing.

About two years before the sexual assault, Duffin's 13-year-old daughter Karla was kidnapped, raped, tortured and buried alive by Paul Dally.

"His life totally spiralled out of control," Mr King said.

"That could not have had anything but the most devastating impact on this man."

The rape had not been premeditated but "unscripted mayhem" under the influence of drugs, Mr King said.

Hills' lawyer Rennie Gould also asked that she be given credit for her early admission of guilt on the drugs charges.

Breaking with court convention, Hills addressed Justice Gendall directly: "I'd just like to say I apologise for any harm that I've caused."

Passing sentence, Justice Gendall said the couple had "taken an unhealthy interest" in the teen before drawing her into their web and exploiting her naivety.

There were a number of aggravating factors which added to the seriousness of the crime, he said.

The rape had been premeditated, they had plied the teen with drugs, and they had known she was too young to consent.

"Your victim was barely a child."

It was "incomprehensible" that Duffin would rape a girl so close in age to his own daughter, Justice Gendall said.

Hills was "equally responsible and complicit" by calming the teen and holding her head. However, Justice Gendall was obliged to give her a lighter sentence because of sentencing precedents from past cases.

After the sentence was delivered, a man yelled from the public gallery: "Enjoy prison you filthy mongrels."

There were also tense scenes outside court as supporters of the victim and offenders exchanged heated words.

Speaking outside court, Detective Kevin Dillon of Wellington police said the sentences were "a good outcome" which would send a message to other victims of historic sexual offending.

"Even though significant periods of time may have elapsed between when the offending took place and now, they can still come forward with confidence," he said.

"They will be listened to, they will be believed and appropriate charges will be laid."

- NZPA