Gisborne businessman Arthur Thomas Kale has been imprisoned for five years for historical sexual offending against two girls dating back to the 1970s.
Kale, 65, pleaded guilty in Wellington District Court to two representative counts of raping one of the complainants, and to one count of representative rape and one representative count of indecent assault, both committed against the other complainant.
The offences were committed over a seven-year period.
Judge Bruce Davidson said both victims had been deeply and permanently affected, and suffered in relationships with others.
"All I can say is that reading their victim impact statements and listening to them makes one feel sad and depressed.
"Your offending undoubtedly is just another example of the widespread nature of such offending.
"You have had a very successful career in business but, unfortunately, there is a disturbing chink or flaw in your character.''
The judge said aggravating features included premeditation, ongoing and repeated offending, breaching of trust, the vulnerability of the young complainants and the permanent effect on both of them.
Mitigating factors included Kale's guilty pleas, remorse and efforts to make amends.
"I believe you suggested last year that the matter be placed with the police and, in essence, brought out into the open.
"I can only hope that for you, these are significant strides towards your personal rehabilitation.''
Both complainants had waived their statutory protection, resulting in Kale's name suppression lapsing, said Judge Davidson.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tusha Penny, of the Wellington District Child Protection Team, told The Gisborne Herald the complainants had approached the unit directly.
Detectives were sent to Gisborne from Wellington to investigate and that explained why Kale was prosecuted in Wellington.
Child abuse was under-reported and such conduct was unacceptable in any country and any culture.
"People who are victims of historic cases should know the police will deal with them with dignity and respect, and get the right outcome, said Ms Penny.
One of Arthur Kale's victims encouraged other victims of sexual abuse or harassment to come forward. Now an adult, the woman said it was still not easy to talk about what happened but she knew now that the shame of the abuse did not belong to her.
"I have done what I should have done over 30 years ago but I never had the courage or self-esteem back then to tell my deepest secret. I pray we are the only victims but suspect we are not.
"If you are a victim of sexual abuse or sexual harassment, I truly know how you feel.
"At the age of just 12 I didn't understand what was happening, I thought I was the only one. I was so ashamed. Was it my fault? Why couldn't I stop what was happening? Why couldn't I speak up?
"I thank the person who once approached me in my teenage years and tried to help. I do not know your name but I do hope there are more people like you in this world. To the other people who also knew and said nothing, it is never too late to speak up and make these despicable people in our community accountable for their actions. I only wish I had spoken up a long, long time ago.''
- Gisborne Herald
