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Home / New Zealand

Masterton man jailed for sex attack

By Don Farmer
Wairarapa Times-Age·
2 May, 2013 08:27 PM3 mins to read

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A night-time sex attack on a Masterton schoolgirl has resulted in a 23-year-old Samoan man being imprisoned for seven years and two months.

In Masterton District Court yesterday, Judge Peter Hobbs told James Fruean he would also impose a minimum time Fruean was to remain behind bars - three years, seven months - before applying for parole.

Fruean was appearing for sentence on four charges to which he had earlier pleaded guilty.

They involved the rape of the 14-year-old Masterton girl, unlawful sexual connection with her and her abduction for sex.

The fourth charge related to an indecent assault on a Wellington woman for which Fruean was on bail when he committed the Masterton offences.

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Prior to Fruean being sentenced, Judge Hobbs had allowed the 14-year-old Masterton victim to read her victim impact statement to the court.

The girl said she had moved from Masterton following the attack last September. She had been left with feelings of embarrassment and shame and had been reluctant to leave the house.

The girl said she now refused to sleep in a room on her own as she was afraid someone would enter at night and harm her, she had "cried and cried" in the aftermath of the sex attack and had lost trust in everyone.

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Fruean, she said, had been a total stranger to her when he had mounted the attack as she walked to her boyfriend's home about 9.30pm on September 29.

Despite all that had happened she had "decided to put it all behind me" and didn't "hate" Fruean for what he had done.

The girl said she had forgiven her attacker.

Throughout yesterday's sentencing Fruean was attended by an accredited Samoan interpreter and remained in the dock with his head bowed throughout.

In his summation of the Masterton attack, Judge Hobbs said Fruean had dragged the girl 6-7 metres to a secluded riverside spot where he raped her twice and performed oral sex on her after punching her in the face to subdue her. He said it was clear from the victim's statement that the attack had impacted on her considerably and it was "remarkable" that she had forgiven him.

The Wellington charge related to Fruean accosting a woman at Wellington Railway Station, hugging her and groping her breasts before trying to force his hand down her skirt.

Passers-by had come to her aid but the incident had left the woman "feeling anxious and unsafe in public places".

Judge Hobbs said a pre-sentence report showed Fruean had only "superficial remorse" for his victims and was more worried over how long he would be in prison.

Fruean's guilty plea had however spared the Masterton victim the anguish of a trial.

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