Repeat rapist found guilty of attempted sexual violation

File photo / NZ Herald

A two-time rapist has been found guilty in the High Court in Wellington of attempted sexual violation of a teenager.

The father of the girl discovered Justin Ames Johnston, 41, in the backyard the Upper Hutt property where the 16-year-old was alone in a sleepout.

Johnston claimed to have been on the suburban section intending to commit a burglary.

However, the jury of six men and six women returned a unanimous guilty verdict this evening after deliberating for more than three hours.

Johnston showed no emotion as Justice Stephen Kos remanded him until March 19 for sentencing.

Earlier today, Johnston changed his plea to guilty on a second charge - threatening to do grievous bodily harm to the girl's father.

As the father went outside to get wood for his fire on July 19 last year, he found Johnston lurking near the sleepout and chased him, grabbing him as he tried to scale a fence.

The father put Johnston in an armlock and then applied a choker hold. But when Johnston produced a garden fork and threatened him, he let go.

A police dog tracked Johnston through the neighbourhood and located him.

Prosecutor Grant Burston told the judge the Crown would be submitting at sentencing that Johnston should be given preventive detention.

The trial was told Johnston had two rape convictions and more than two dozen for burglary.