An 89-year-old Cromwell man has been jailed for sexually molesting two young girls in the 1970s and 1990s.
Ronald Noel Barkman was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Michael Crosbie when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday on five representative charges of indecency with a girl under 12.
Judge Crosbie said Barkman had shown no indication of remorse in relation the offending.
Barkman sexually molested the first victim once a month for two years in the mid-1970s, when she was aged 5 and 6.
He sexually molested the second victim in the 1990s, when she was aged from 4 to 9. The offending, Judge Crosbie said, had an element of grooming to it.
Barkman sat in the dock wearing earphones to assist with hearing the sentencing.
The court heard the offending occurred at Barkman's then residence in Dunedin.
The victims said the offending had robbed them of their childhoods and their ability to connect with others and trust men.
''You used your place of trust to physically, sexually and mentally abuse me,'' the first victim, J, said.
''You have no idea how your lack of love and protection towards me left me with a life lacking love and filled with depression.
''I hated you.''
The second victim, A, said she could not stand getting close to males as a result of the offending.
''I feel extremely insecure around males, especially when they are touching me,'' A said.
''I even still feel this way around my own husband.''
Judge Crosbie thanked the victims for having the courage to stand and face Barkman and said that the offending was entirely his fault.
''You have long, productive lives ahead of you,'' Judge Crosbie said.
''I hope that today will bring some closure for you in relation to what has been a horrible, if not horrific, chapter of your lives.''
Addressing Barkman, Judge Crosbie said the conduct was grave, depraved and, quite frankly, disgusting.''
He questioned Barkman's remorse, saying: ''You accept the summary of facts. Beyond that, I have real concerns as to whether you feel any responsibility or contrition for the harm you have caused''.
The offending on J stopped after two years, when the victim started to retaliate and fight back, the summary said.
He molested the second victim on 50 occasions.
While the summary was read to the court, Barkman's wife - seated in the public gallery - covered her ears with her hands.
Judge Crosbie said Barkman's jail sentence could revert to home detention when the probation service advised a suitable address was available. His home in Cromwell was incompatible with electronically monitored home detention.
The court heard he and his wife were in the process of selling the residence to move to a residential care facility.
He hoped Barkman's wife's unwillingness to listen to the summary of facts was not indicative of her collusion in his ongoing lack of contrition and acceptance of responsibility for his offending.
