Man who kidnapped girl for sex jailed

Tony Robertson

A Tauranga teenager who police feared would kill his five-year-old sex victim last year has been jailed for eight years.

Tony Douglas Robertson, 19, unemployed, sparked a huge manhunt in Tauranga in December when he abducted a five-year-old schoolgirl and took her to the remote Kaiate Falls near Welcome Bay and sexually molested her.

He was arrested when a Tauranga policeman acted on gut instinct and drove to the falls where he found Robertson and his young victim who had had her underpants removed.

Today Robertson was told he would serve at least five years of his eight-year prison term before he became eligible for parole.

However, Justice Patrick Keane, who presided over Robertson's trial in Rotorua in July, said he did not accept it was appropriate for him to be sentenced to preventive detention which would have imposed an indefinite term of imprisonment.

"You are not a lost cause at 19," he told Robertson.

He said although Robertson had shown no remorse and did not accept he was guilty, that denial could change if he reflected and was given some help.

Robertson was being sentenced on nine charges. A High Court jury in Rotorua found him guilty of seven, including abducting the five-year-old child with intent to sexually abuse her, three charges of indecently assaulting the five-year-old, attempting to kidnap two other children, and one of robbing a child.

He admitted two other charges of assaulting a prison guard and threatening behaviour.

The charges were laid after Robertson stole a cellphone from a 12-year-old and tried to abduct two other children aged six and seven, the day before he abducted the five-year-old.

In the High Court in Auckland today crown prosecutor Simon Bridges said preventive detention was appropriate and if that was not imposed then it should be a sentence of 12 to 14 years in jail.

He said his victims no longer had confidence in themselves or trusted men.

It was a brazen, premeditated attack in broad daylight.

"What might have been is the stuff of parents' nightmares," Mr Bridges said.

He said there was no remorse, no acknowledgment of the crime and no understanding of the offending.

For Robertson, Thomas Sutcliffe argued for a sentence of between five and six years and said the judge should resist the temptation to sentence on the basis of what might have been rather than what actually happened.

On the charge of abducting the girl, Robertson was jailed for seven and a half years. A six month jail term was added for an assault on a prison officer but on the other charges the sentences were concurrent. On each of the attempted kidnap charges he was jailed for two and a half years. On each of the indecent assault charges he was jailed for two years and on the robbery charges he was jailed for six months

Outside the court the policeman in charge of the case, Detective Peter Blackwell, said had not Sergeant Dave Thompson gone to the Kaiate Falls and found Robertson sexually molesting his victim, he may have killed her.

"It was partial luck and a huge commitment from a large number of dedicated police officers who attended that morning.

"I believe as the majority of police officers involved believe, that we probably saved a young girl's life."

He said it was very sad that from day one Robertson had shown no remorse and had not accepted any responsibility.

He said he needed to admit his guilt and get the help available in prison.

- NZPA