A judge jailed a 55-year-old man yesterday, and told him that his behaviour in violating a young girl "hundreds and hundreds" of times was abhorrent.
John William Lonneker, of Riverton, was sentenced to seven and a half years' jail, with a minimum non-parole period of five years, after he was last year found guilty of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and doing an indecent act on a child aged under 12. The charges were representative.
The Southland Times reported that Judge Kevin Phillips, in Invercargill District Court, said the offending took place at Lonneker's house over a five-year period, starting in 2001 when the girl was five, but Lonneker had also previously been fined for indecently assaulting the girl's sister.
"In reality, this type of abhorrent behaviour against an innocent member of our community is to be absolutely and utterly denounced," Judge Phillips said.
The number of times Lonneker had offended against the latest victim was incalculable and he had abused the girl's trust "hundreds and hundreds" of times.
"It is really impossible to calculate the number of crimes you committed on this defenceless and innocent child."
The girl, who was now 14, had suffered at the hands of someone she trusted, he said.
As well as the jail sentence, Lonneker was also ordered to pay the victim $10,000 reparation.
