A man who raped a 13-year-old girl has had eight months shaved off his sentence for previous good character.
At a retrial in the Auckland District Court, the man was found guilty of sexual violation by rape and committing an indecent act. He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.
The 38-year-old man then appealed against the sentence, arguing he should have been given credit for his previous good character. He had no previous convictions.
The Court of Appeal found the sentencing judge should have taken into account the man's previous good character, and awarded him a "modest" reduction on his original sentence.
The man's sentence of nine years was quashed and replaced with a sentence of eight years, four months.
