Abuse testimony 'chilling reading'

A former Shannon freezing worker who physically and sexually abused his stepchildren will spend five years in prison.

The 45-year-old man, who cannot be named because it would identify his victims, was sentenced in Levin District Court yesterday on 10 historic charges of indecent assault and assault, which occurred between 1991 and 1996 at the family home in Shannon.

The names of his victims, three children and ex-wife, were suppressed. Two of the victims and the man's elderly parents sat at the back of the court.

From the age of 7, his stepdaughter had endured sexual abuse that led to the man facing four charges of indecent assault and a charge of assault.

He would creep into her bedroom and touch her genitalia and in later years forced her to touch his penis, the court heard.

Two boys under the age of 14 and the girl were beaten with a kettle cord, leather belts, wooden spoons and sticks, which led to four charges of assault.

One of the boys came forward last year and laid a complaint with police.

The man was also charged with assaulting his ex-wife. The children would often witness the beatings, Judge Grant Fraser told the court. "The effect on all of the victims made chilling reading. The effects will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

The victims lived in constant fear of the man "flying into a rage", Judge Fraser said.

The victims' issues with drugs, alcohol and violence stemmed from the years of beatings and abuse, Judge Fraser said. "Your offending blighted the children's potential and has ruined their lives."

Lawyer Keith Becker said as a child the man had been subjected to violence condoned by the Jehovah's Witness church, of which his family was a part.

Judge Grant Fraser interrupted: "Are you suggesting that the Jehovah's Witness church justifies this type of violence? I imagine they would be somewhat surprised to hear that."

Mr Becker said the church "didn't take these matters lightly" and had set up its own "court" to deal with the man's actions.

- © Fairfax NZ News