Mateo Melina Nixon caused his victims harm that will last a lifetime, a judge says.
Nixon was involved in the outdoor dance party scene - "characterised by binge-drinking and drug-taking", according to a court summary of facts - when he committed 13 sexual offences against six women aged between 15 and 31.
The 30-year-old's offending spanned about two and a-half years from October 2009 to July 2012.
During that time, he raped five women and had criminal sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl who was too intoxicated to cry for help.
Nixon is from Christchurch, but was living in Dunedin during some of his offending. In July this year he admitted 13 charges. Five sex offences were committed in Dunedin, two in Waitati, as well as four on the West Coast and two in Canterbury.
Judge Kevin Phillips told Nixon during his appearance in the Dunedin District Court this morning that his premeditated offending has caused his victims harm which will last a lifetime.
He sentenced Nixon to 14 years' jail with a minimum non-parole period of eight years.
"All of these actions were intentional. All of these actions were criminal,'' Judge Phillips said.
"These rapes relate to women who were, if not comatose, without the power to make any form of consent because of sleep or intoxication.''
Defence lawyer Sarah Saunderson-Warner said Nixon has Asperger's Syndrome, which meant he was unable to interpret emotional signals and assumed people shared his point of view.
But Judge Phillips rejected that excuse, adding: "One complainant was saying stop and he just continued until ejaculation''.
Mother says he was easy target
Nixon's mother read a statement to the court in which she said her son has the full support of his family despite his "shocking'' crimes.
"He's always been an easy target for people looking for a scapegoat because he doesn't defend himself.
"He grew up in a house of women and he was brought up to respect women and that's something I think still runs deep in his character," she said.
Her statement drew gasps from the public gallery where many of his victims were sitting.
'I don't feel safe anywhere'
Three of the six women involved read victim impact statements to the court outlining the pain, anxiety and stress Nixon's actions have caused.
"I didn't feel safe anywhere in the world,'' one woman, known as Victim R, said.
Nixon raped Victim R at her friend's house in 2009 after she fell asleep following a night of drinking and watching DVDs with her friend.
She awoke to find Nixon having sex with her. He told her "it's OK, [name withheld] doesn't mind you know''.It took him a while to stop despite her protests, the court was told, and he sexually violated her on two further occasions in 2010.
"It's a wound I will wear for life,'' she told the court today. "I'm sentenced to a lifetime of flash backs, panic attacks ... and endless counselling. I will always feel responsible for what happened to me.''
Other victims told the court they have lost friends and relationships because of Nixon's actions.
In July this year, he pleaded guilty to six charges of rape, three of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, two of indecent assault and two of sexual conduct with a person under 16.
Judge Phillips sentenced Nixon to 14 years' jail for the lead charge of rape, sentences of six years' jail for the other counts of rape, five years' jail on the three counts of sexual violation, three years' jail on the two counts of sexual conduct with a person under 16, and two years' jail for the two counts of indecent assault. All terms would be served concurrently.
As Nixon was led away by Corrections officers, two people in the public gallery shouted: "You piece of shit''.
Outside court, police issued a statement acknowledging the strength of the victims in bringing the matter before the court.
"Their courage is to be commended and we are happy that they are now able to move on with their lives. Police will continue to offer their support to the victims where they can.''
The victims did not wish to make further comment to the media.
