Teen who filmed abuse faces indefinite sentence

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A young sex offender who raped a girl and filmed his sexual abuse is staring down the barrel of an indefinite prison sentence.

The 19-year-old has previously pleaded guilty to rape, three charges of unlawful sexual connection and one of making an intimate visual recording.

The Albany man was back at the North Shore District Court today where Judge Roy Wade continued his interim name suppression, partly for the teenager's personal safety.

"I'm very aware that a defendant ... while in custody and with the publication of his name, it is likely to influence other inmates who notoriously take a violent view against defendants charged with sexual offending."

He said the man also had mental health issues.

The man was to be sentenced today but the Crown has since applied to have the case transferred to the High Court at Auckland because it is seeking a sentence of preventive detention.

Only the High Court has the power to impose such a sentence which would see the man jailed for an indefinite period. He would have to show that he has been rehabilitated before being let out of prison.

The man's lawyer, Sam Wimsett, said he was not opposing the Crown's application.

"Mr is particularly keen to be sentenced as soon as possible so he can get to a prison where he can be treated and that can't happen while he is on remand," Mr Wimsett said.

Judge Wade agreed to send the case to the High Court where it will be called next week.