File image. © Andrew Bardwell
A man who raped and did indecent acts on a young girl was jailed for over 10 years in the Christchurch District Court, but did not get a minimum period of prison imposed.
The Crown prosecutor, Nicola Pointer, had told Judge Jane Farish that she was seeking the minimum term of imprisonment for 42-year-old Robert Boyd, a West Coast farmer.
Boyd was sentenced on one charge of rape, four of doing indecent acts on a girl under 12, assault with a blunt instrument, and assault.
He was read the first of the three strike warnings that impose heavier penalties on repeat violent and sexual offenders.
The girl’s victim impact statement was read in court, and she said she lived in fear he would come back to get her as he threatened her with that when he assaulted her. She said she could not trust anyone, had difficulty sleeping at night, and when she heard noises in the night she thought he might be there.
Defence counsel Marcus Zintl said Boyd maintained his innocence, but he was found guilty at trial.
Judge Farish said the offending happened in 2011, and Boyd pleaded guilty to assaulting a child using a weapon – a belt – and assaulting a boarder who lived with him, but denied the sexual charges.
She said Boyd was given electronically monitored bail in 2012, but he left the country and went to Australia.
He spent 18 months detained there while waiting to be extradited, and became mentally unwell and was not fit to stand trial until this year.
She said the offending was very serious, and quite violent.
His pre-sentence report said Boyd had formerly done treatment programmes, and had a good work ethic when he was employed.
His psychiatric report said he had a psychotic disorder, and had been addicted to various drugs, and alcohol. It recommended he receive further treatment in custody.
Judge Farish sentenced Boyd to ten years four months in prison, but decided against a Crown application for a minimum non-parole term to be imposed.
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