South Island man charged with decades of sexual and physical abuse

A man in his 50s has pleaded guilty to 20 charges involving sexual and physical offending spanning from the 1980s to the 2020s. The South Island offender, who is currently under interim name suppression, committed these acts against his daughter, step-granddaughter, two sisters, two former partners, and a distant relative. He will remain in prison until he is sentenced later this year.

The charges include eight counts of sexual violation by rape, eight counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, and one charge of wounding with intent to injure. He also pleaded guilty to making objectionable material and performing an indecent act on a young person.

Court documents detail a 20-year relationship with an ex-partner that involved physical, emotional, and sexual violence. During this time, the man reportedly hit, pushed, and kicked the woman, including an incident where he punched her in the eye and kicked her in the stomach while she was pregnant.

The offending against the man's daughter began when she was approximately five years old and continued until she was 15. Additionally, the man pleaded guilty to sexual violation by rape regarding another former partner who was 15 at the start of their relationship in 1990.

How it developed

• Mon 12 Oct, 7:28amPolice laid 94 charges following further investigations that uncovered more victims.

Compiled from reports by 1News, NZ Herald and Otago Daily Times.