Police say three women feel relieved and vindicated after an Auckland doctor admitted three historic charges of sexually attacking them more than 20 years ago.
The 59-year-old GP admitted the charges of indecent assault against girls under the age of 12 when he appeared in the High Court at Auckland today.
The charges related to events between 1979 and 1988 involving three women who, when children, lived or holidayed in a small community on the Coromandel Peninsula, where the accused lived when not in Auckland.
Two other charges, including one of rape, was withdrawn by prosecutors.
Detective Sergeant Andy King, who heads the adult sexual assault team at Auckland police, said the victims, one of whom was in court, were delighted at the guilty pleas.
"We have been talking with the victims concerned about this for a little while now," he said.
"They are feeling incredibly relieved and so pleased that the guilty pleas have been made."
Mr King said the victims were not concerned that the rape charge had been dropped.
"We did that absolutely with their involvement," he said.
"They feel that wasn't really an issue. They just wanted vindication and acknowledgement that they were telling the truth and they feel that they have that."
Mr King said the investigation had been a difficult one due to its historic nature and he was delighted at the outcome.
The doctor's name is suppressed.
He will seek permanent name suppression when he appears for sentencing on April 24. He is also seeking to resume practising as a doctor.
He was told to stop practising a year ago by a District Court judge in return for interim name suppression.
Mr King said police and the Crown would oppose permanent name suppression.
He said it would be up to the Medical Council, which is automatically notified of the conviction of a doctor for a crime as serious as this one, to decide whether he was fit to resume practising.
Mr King said the offending did not occur in the course of the man's activities as a doctor.
The name of the community is also suppressed.
