Sentencing of Robert Ashleigh McLarnon, convicted of raping and sexually assaulting girls in the 60s 70s and 80s. Photo / Andrew Warner
Robert Ashleigh Edward McLarnon has been sentenced to 12 years in prison on 32 charges of historical sexual abuse, most against children.
In June, a jury convicted the 78-year-old - once a respected member of his small rural community - of raping, sexually violating or indecently assaulting 10 girls in a number of locations, including his farm, in the Waihī and Katikati areas over a 19-year period in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. His youngest victim was aged 5.
Some charges were representative of multiple incidents. On one occasion, he held a knife to a girl's throat while indecently assaulting her.
McLarnon sat hunched and swaying, eyes closed and head propped up on a crutch, in the dock for much of the sentencing hearing in Tauranga District Court this afternoon.
The court heard McLarnon's victims were young and teenaged girls.
One by one, five victims, now mature women who cannot be named for legal reasons, told him about the impact of his offending on their lives in the decades it took to bring him to justice.
The women told him of the pain and trauma he put them through, and the nightmares, fear of being alone, mistrust of other men and other impacts that had stayed with them for decades.
"You scarred me for life so that you could carry out your horrendous acts," said one woman raped repeatedly as a girl.
Detective Mark Leathem, who led the team that investigated the case, issued a statement on Friday afternoon praising the women who came forward.
"I would like to recognise the bravery, determination and strength of the 10 victims who spoke up about this man and saw those complaints through the court process.
"By having the courage to make their voices heard they have helped ensure this man is no longer out in the community with the opportunity to continue offending and causing harm."