Man sent to prison for almost 15 years for sex offences that began when child was 8

A man has gone to prison for almost 15 years for offences against a child, which began when she was 8 years old. Photo/123RF

WARNING: THIS STORY DISCUSSES SEXUAL ABUSE

Lindsay Duncan Moore’s victim was just 8 years old when the sexual abuse began.

It started with back rubs, quickly evolved into touching and then into rape over the course of the next eight years.

At one point, he even filmed his actions, when the victim was only 11 years old.

Moore was convicted after a trial last month when in less than an hour a jury found him guilty on 24 charges. Last week he was sent to prison for 14 years and eight months for child sex offending.

The 48-year-old was declined name suppression after thevictim indicated she was opposed to continued suppression.

Moore had been living in Nelson, which was where he was arrested in January 2020 and where the trial was held, but the offending happened in the North Island where he lived at the time.

It came to light when the complainant eventually felt strong enough to report it.

She disclosed what had happened to close family members then went to the police in the city where she was living, and Moore was arrested.

The summary of facts detailed the harrowing abuse, revealing it began with Moore rubbing the child’s back.

Within a few weeks, the massages progressed to him slipping his hand beneath her clothing.

Three years later, the victim travelled to visit family members but before she left, Moore issued her with a warning.

He accused the young girl of “watching him when he got changed” and threatened to tell the police if she told anyone about what he had been doing to her.

His offending got worse when she returned from her trip.

She was only 11 when subjected to such violation, but thought it was normal behaviour, such was the degree of grooming, the summary of facts showed.

“The complainant gradually allowed the defendant to carry out his abuse while also carrying out some of the defendant’s sexual requests,” the police summary said.

As the abuse became more frequent, Moore, on one occasion, filmed what he did to her.

Around the same time, he explained what he wanted next was “normal”, that it would “make him happy” and was “the next logical progression in their relationship”.

The victim was scared, but wanted to make Moore happy, so she agreed to his request.

“At the time the complainant thought this type of behaviour was normal due to her juvenile age, accompanied by the progressive sexual grooming by the defendant,” the summary said.

The pattern of behaviour continued into the girl’s teens but eventually stopped when she turned 16 and began to resist Moore’s advances.

They eventually led to two charges of sexual violation by rape, one of which was specifically related and another was representative.

Moore denied the charges, suggesting it was a “ploy” against him, and also denied the other 22 counts of sexual offending, some of which were representative. But the jury found him guilty.

Judge David Ruth said that it seemed, on the evidence that he’d heard, that the 24 guilty verdicts that were returned “were indeed inevitable”.

He credited the victim for her courage in giving evidence in front of many strangers, and for reading her victim impact statement, which contained deeply personal matters.

“Both occasions give rise to, is in my view a sign of her courage, and of her integrity and truthfulness.”

The starting point for the sentence was 15 years, with a four-month deduction Judge Ruth said reflected some positive character aspects as set out in a number of references, including a large number of testimonials about Moore from people who know him and who found him to be a “trustworthy, hardworking and pleasant man”.

Judge Ruth said some struggled to understand how Moore was capable of the offences for which a jury found him guilty - some even inferred they might be “false”.

Judge Ruth reiterated they were not false, but verdicts arrived at by a jury after hearing all of the evidence.

“I take into consideration that there is a body of people who have spoken well of you, how much of the actual offending they know about is a matter that I do not know of at this stage,” Judge Ruth said.

Judge Ruth said that because Moore showed no remorse, his risk of harm and of reoffending was assessed by the Probation Service as being high.

“It needs to be said to you that while that is a position you are entitled to take the overall effect is that when the Parole Board comes to consider your release that is highly unlikely to happen until you engage in programmes to address your sexual deviancy,” Judge Ruth told Moore.

SEXUAL HARM

Sexual harm - Where to get help

If it’s an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.If you’ve ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially any time 24/7:

• Call 0800 044 334

• Text 4334

• Email support@safetotalk.nz

• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz

Alternatively, contact your local police station - click here for a list.

If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it’s not your fault.