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A man who systematically raped a young girl over several years has been jailed for 14 years.
Mark Edward Ironside was told in Auckland District Court today he would serve at least seven years before he became eligible for parole for years of sexual abuse which began when one of his victims was only eight.
He was in court for sentencing on 16 charges of rape, sexual violation, indecent assault and assault on three victims.
For two of the victims the abuse continued for several years. In court today crown prosecutor Natalie Walker said Ironside deprived two of his victims of their teen years.
One of his victims said in her victim impact report people had no idea of how much pain she had gone through over the past few years.
"It is something I have to live with for the rest of my life."
Ms Walker said it was a gross abuse of trust by a person who had groomed the young girl for sex.
The abuse included rape, sexual violation, digital penetration and anal intercourse and began when one of the victims was eight and lasted until she was 15.
The abuse of the second victim began when she was 11 and lasted until she was 15. The third victim was staying at Ironside's house for a fortnight when she was abused.
Through his lawyer, Peter Tomlinson, Ironside said he was deeply remorseful and acknowledged his role, his wrongdoing and the harm he had done.
"He accepts that and does not seek to blame others," Mr Tomlinson told the court.
Judge Phil Gittos said Ironside had groomed his first victim for sex when she was particularly vulnerable. He said it was a gross breach of the trust of victims who should have been safe.
One of the girls was raped at least once a week. One of the sexual acts was degrading and painful.
He said by reading the victim impact statements he got a heart-wrenching impression of how devastating the impact of the offending was.
He said a probation officer's report showed Ironside had little insight into his offending and was not particularly remorseful.
He was manipulative and very skilled at making himself a victim of his own offending.
His guilty plea to less serious offences was a "tactical plea" and not intended to spare the complainants from giving evidence.
- NZPA
