Alexander Wright, 61, appeared for sentencing in front of the High Court at Whangārei District Court. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
WARNING: This story contains disturbing details of abuse to children.
Looking in from the outside, the kind gesture from a man who offered to support a mother by babysitting her children when things got too much seemed genuine.
But, unbeknownst to the mother, the man was taking advantage of the girls any chance he could, even while his wife slept in the next room.
Now, Alexander Wright, 61, has been jailed for 20 years with a minimum non-parole period of 10 years, with a judge commenting his prospects of rehabilitation are slim, especially if he doesn't acknowledge his guilt.
The sentence has been applauded by Child Matters manager Jane Searle as a significant sentence responding to justice.
"The trauma and lifelong impact on the lives of those victims impacted cannot be underestimated.
"It's important the justice system responds appropriately, because the impacts are far-reaching not only for the victims but also for the community," Searle told NZME.
At a jury trial in the High Court at Whangārei earlier this year, Wright was found guilty of 38 charges of sexual offending against three girls all under the age of 12 at the time.
The charges related to various kinds of violations, including eight rapes, which occurred repeatedly.
Justice Michael Robinson said the victims were strong, brave and resilient young women with years of potential ahead of them.
"I want to particularly acknowledge and pay tribute to their courage. Each continues to suffer for what you have done to them, and each has a long road ahead.
"Hopefully moving forward they can take comfort that justice has been served because of their courage," Justice Robinson said.
For years, Wright offered to help the mother babysit her children, sometimes overnight, in his family home.
Almost immediately he began sexually violating the children.
On one of the girl's first overnight visits, Wright sexually violated her in the lounge and when she moved to a room to be closer to his wife so she could feel safe, he took her back to the lounge and violated her again. The following morning he raped her.
“I note now there is no suggestion, and there has been no suggestion, that your wife was aware of your offending,” Judge Robinson commented to the man who appeared in the dock at the High Court at Whangārei for his sentencing on Friday. He has had no support in court throughout the proceedings.
'You preyed on her'
The girl gave evidence at trial that Wright was constantly trying to touch her in either her own home or his and even when she locked herself in a bathroom to get away from him, he managed to get to her.
The girl thought that by putting up with Wright's behaviours she was protecting her younger sisters from him and was devastated to learn they were also victims of his predatory behaviour.
"There was nothing she could have possibly done to protect them from you, you preyed on them like you preyed on her, she is not at all responsible for your offending. The only person responsible is you," Justice Robinson said.
Wright violently pinned another one of the girls down and raped her, while he sexually violated another one multiple times.
"She told you to stop, you told her not to tell you what to do and if she told anyone, she wouldn't see what was coming," Justice Robinson said.
'How could you do that?'
One of the victims told the court her childhood had been shattered and her innocence taken.
"I was told to keep my mouth shut, how could you do that to someone at the ripe age of 7?
"Every man I looked at was a monster, every boy was a demon," she said in court at the sentencing.
The victim said she was scared she would be blamed if she told the truth and had a message for her younger self.
"I wish I could hug that 7-year-old and tell her 'There are no more worries and no more monsters living inside the house'."
Justice Robinson criticised Wright's continual denials and viewed his offending as serious and significant.
"You claim to be a victim of false allegations, but your victims have had the courage to come forward.
"Instead of caring for them you used and abused them constantly for your own gratification ... they were vulnerable children."
Justice Robinson sentenced Wright to 20 years imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 10 years.
"If you continue to deny your offending, you will serve your full term. If you continue to deny your offending, no rehabilitation programmes will be offered. Your prospects of rehabilitation seem slim."
Wright was automatically added to the child sex offender register.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. (Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.)
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Sexual Violence
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 - push 0 at the menu
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496
*This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.
Photo: Open Justice