Man guilty of historic sex abuse

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A now 63-year-old man who sexually abused young girls while babysitting them almost 50 years ago has been convicted of indecent assault.

Dennes Dearnley, now from Palmerston North, appeared in Wellington District Court this week and pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent assault.

The historic child sex abuse took place between 1964 and 1973 in Carterton.

Dearnley's victims were two girls aged under 12 and between 12 and 16 at the time.

Judge Denys Barry told the district court how Dearnley, after assaulting his victims, would threaten them.

One of his victims was aged between 8 and 11 when the offending took place.

"This would happen when you would babysit her at home ... [this was] underpinned by threats that she would be beaten if she told anyone."

He said Dearnley's offending was premeditated.

"Taking advantage of opportunities as they arose with an underlying agenda of offending when such opportunities arose."

Judge Barry discussed the impact Dearnley's assaults had had on the women, evident through their victim-impact statements.

"[The] first speaks of how vivid the events were although 50 years has elapsed and she speaks of her inability of being able to trust people," Judge Barry said.

"The second ... speaks of having her life blighted with the inability to maintain relationships because of a lack of trust.

"There was the vulnerability of these girls, of the emotional harm reflected in the victim-impact statements."

Judge Barry said Dearnley's offending was mitigated by the fact he had shown "true remorse", had no other previous convictions and offered to pay reparation.

"Your many years of blameless life since and offer to pay emotional harm reparation."

Dearnley was also a youth during some of the offending.

He was remanded on bail until sentencing on November 1.