Sex offender could be locked up indefinitely

Dion Tau. Photo / Supplied

A man convicted of posing as a truancy officer and sexually assaulting young women could be facing an indefinite prison term because prosecutors say he has something wrong with his "wiring".

Dion Selwyn Tau, in December pleaded guilty to 14 charges including sexual violation and threatening to kill, stemming from offending over a three-year period from 2007.

He returned to Auckland District Court yesterday, where the Crown argued for an application for preventive detention to be heard in the High Court.

If successful, it would mean Tau, 42, could be locked up indefinitely.

Crown prosecutor Scott McColgan argued Tau's offending had a pattern of targeting young girls, luring them into his car and then sexually assaulting them.

The offending "smells of pathology" and of "something wrong with the wiring of Mr Tau", he said.

In a November 2008 attack, Tau approached a 15-year-old girl who was in school uniform and listening to an iPod. He told her he was a truancy officer, then told her to get into his car and he would take her home. Tau took her to her home, where he beat her and pushed her down the stairs before sexually assaulting her.

Two other victims - attacked in 2007 and 2009 - were sexually assaulted in Tau's car after he approached them on the street.

Mr McColgan said statements made by Tau about his offending were of concern.

"He says he has no excuses and to quote: 'I was not thinking straight, I should have known better. I was acting like a teenager'."

Tau's lawyer Barry Hart said his client had pleaded guilty to the charges and was willing to do all the available prison programmes.

The district courts had appropriate sentences available for Tau's offending, he said.

Judge Graham Hubble agreed Tau's case should be heard in the High Court, and ordered psychological assessments be carried out.

Tau was remanded in custody.

The High Court hearing is set down for next month.

His victims are expected to give impact statements.