KEY POINTS:
The disgraced husband of Fashion Week owner Pieter Stewart, jailed for sexually abusing a young girl, is expected to get a relatively easy ride in prison, while his victim has "lived with her own hell".
Peter Maxwell Stewart, 62, a member of a prominent Canterbury family, was handed a 3 1/2-year jail sentence in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday, but is fighting to clear his name with the support of his family.
Stewart was convicted by a jury in December of rape, sodomy, indecent assaults and inducing indecent acts against a girl when she was as young as 8. The abuse occurred between 30 and 40 years ago.
Before yesterday's sentencing, a friend of Stewart's approached criminologist Greg Newbold to get an insight into what he could expect in prison.
Dr Newbold, who has served time in prison for selling heroin, advised Stewart to "keep his head down and he will be all right".
He said Stewart's wealth and profile would not influence how he was treated in prison.
"First of all it's a very historic offence ... nobody will know the [victim], no one will know him in prison, and it's so old no one will care.
"The second thing is that he will be shot very quickly out to a minimum security unit ... where he will be in the company of other people probably of his age.
"I think he will do his time, depending on his own conduct within the jail, fairly peacefully and get out in a year and a half or so and go home and get on with his life."
Stewart is to appeal against his convictions, and his family reaffirmed their support for him yesterday.
The victim's family said the events of the past three years had "devastated, disintegrated and destroyed families and extended families".
"The conviction of Peter Stewart brings some closure for the victim and those close to her."
Justice Graham Panckhurst said Stewart had taken advantage of a young and vulnerable girl, but in the past 30 years had made a significant contribution in the community.
The abuse seemed to be an aberration in an otherwise good life.
Crown prosecutor Phil Shamy said Stewart's offending was over a long period of time and involved "grooming, gameplay and leading to violation".
