Child rapist's gang link

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The teenager who raped a five-year-old girl in a Turangi holiday park has gang connections.

The Sunday Star-Times has been told the 16-year-old, who has pleaded guilty to the attack, was motivated by the possibility of securing entry into a gang.

Because of the suppression orders around the case, the gang cannot be named.

The Star-Times understands the teen's father had been associated with the gang, but not since the attack, which shocked New Zealand in the lead-up to Christmas. The boy's father cannot be named for legal reasons.

The claims were made by several sources close to the investigation.

"The family and the boy are connected to a gang," one said. "The family is gang-associated. It's not just the father."

Another source said: "The family are well-recognised as being what they are ... rotten apples. Where are you heading in society when you have this underbelly?"

The teenager raped the sleeping five-year-old at Turangi's Club Habitat holiday park on December 21.

The girl's parents – overseas tourists who were holidaying in New Zealand – were in a nearby amenities block when the attack took place. The little girl's mother returned to find the teen lying on her daughter.

He fled and was arrested a week later.

On Wednesday in the Taupo Youth Court, he pleaded guilty to sexual violation by rape, causing grievous bodily harm, and burglary.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, Judge Jocelyn Munro said the teen had to be sentenced as an adult, transferring the case to the Rotorua District Court next month.

"The age and vulnerability of the victim and the seriousness of the violence perpetuated against her are such that the appropriate sentence would likely exceed any district court summary jurisdiction," she said. The maximum jail sentence for rape is 20 years.

The teenager remains under 24-hour watch in a youth justice facility.

The Star-Times has been shown a photo that shows him posing, shirtless, with a gang nickname and an anti-police slogan clearly visible.

Public outrage has continued since his arrest.

At a court hearing two weeks ago, the boy's mother read out a prayer he had written from his cell, calling for forgiveness from God. The teen asked God to "make me a man, without hate, anger and stress".

Munro was criticised for allowing the prayer to be read, and for telling the boy he looked smartly-dressed for the hearing.

The message disgusted his victim's family, who said in a statement: "We find it difficult to believe that this boy who did this to our daughter three weeks ago can write beautiful prayers to God now.

"Our daughter was fast asleep when this boy violated her and stole something from her that can never be returned. We want the court to consider the seriousness of the case and produce a ruling accordingly."

The family has also repeatedly thanked the public for its support.

More than $60,000 has been donated to a trust fund for the family, and toys and clothing flooded into Waikato Hospital, where the girl was treated after the attack.

- © Fairfax NZ News