R v Manhire - [2026] NZHC 2397

Sentencing for extensive sexual offending against four victims. Three of the victims were teenagers at the time of the offending, with one being a young person under the age of 16 years, and defendant occupied a position of trust. Offending included four charges of sexual violation by rape, eight counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, committing an indecent act with intent to insult or offend, a representative charge of sexual conduct with a young person under 16, strangulation, two counts of threatening to kill, and drug charges. Aggravating factors of planning and premeditation, breach of trust, vulnerability, scale of offending, multiple offenders, use of drugs, level of harm to victims. Offending against fourth victim of indecent assault and threatening to kill. Displayed a lack of remorse and understanding of offending.

Held: Sentence of preventive detention imposed. Minimum period of imprisonment of 10 years'. Factors in 87(4) of the Sentencing Act 2002 met. Health assessor reports concluded that defendant posed risk of committing further sexual offending. Lack of remorse or understanding indicative of tendency to commit serious sexual offences in future. Despite previous efforts at treatment, pattern of offending discloses increasing seriousness. If preventive detention were not imposed, a finite sentence of 18 years and six months' imprisonment would be imposed.