Restaurateur loses appeal in male-rape case

A former Auckland restaurateur's appeal against his conviction for drugging and raping a younger man has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Philip David Sturm was jailed last May for nine years after being convicted of six charges of sexual violation and stupefaction against four men, all aged in their 20s.

At his sentencing in the High Court at Auckland last May, Justice Hugh Williams told Sturm the victim had been catastrophically affected.

He had given up studies and was deeply traumatised several years after the event.

It was the second time Sturm had been on trial on the charges after the Court of Appeal ordered a new trial when both Sturm's lawyer and the Crown appealed.

- NZPA