New Zealand / Regional

Prison for brothel pair

20:57 pm on 8 January 2010

Two Wellington brothel-keepers have been sentenced to prison for the rape of a teenager, who began working for them as a child prostitute soon afterwards.

Gary Duffin, the father of murdered Lower Hutt schoolgirl Karla Cardno, and Sharyn Lee Hills were found guilty in the High Court at Wellington last October of raping the girl, then aged 14.

The jury also found Duffin guilty of indecent assault and of sexual violation.

He was sentenced to prison for a total of nine years: eight years for the rape of the teen, two years for sexual violation, to be served concurrently, one year also concurrently for supplying cannabis and one year to be served consecutively for supplying drugs to a minor.

Hills was sentenced to a total of seven years: six years for rape and one year for supplying drugs to a minor.

The offences took place between May - December 1991.