Preventive jail for sex abuser

A paedophile who abused more than a dozen children over 25 years has been sentenced to preventive detention.

Brett David Grinder, 41, of Papatoetoe admitted 23 charges of indecent assault, 13 of them representative, and one of unlawful sexual connection involving a total of 13 boys and girls aged 4 to 16.

Crown lawyer Debra Bell told the High Court at Auckland that Grinder created a children-friendly environment, including having a train set in his garage, to entice youngsters.

Some of his victims had been left emotionally crippled.



Justice Paul Heath said the charges covered a fraction of Grinder's offending.

He described him as opportunistic, manipulative and predatory.

What remorse he showed was more for his own predicament than for his victims.