A 20-year jail term for a former teacher who raped runaway teenage boys has been welcomed by police today.
Graeme Andrew Joblin, 56, groomed vulnerable young boys he met while busking in Christchurch's Cathedral Square.
He plied them with alcohol and drugs before taking advantage of them by raping and indecently attacking them.
Now, he has been jailed for 20 years, with a minimum non-parole term of seven years, after being found guilty by jury on 23 charges.
In Christchurch District Court today, Judge Jane Farish told the former Wellington high school teacher: "I have searched. There are no other cases which have offending at this unprecedented level."
"This offending could be described as depraved in the extreme," she said.
A four-year investigation began with an initial disclosure that eventually led to 10 victims being identified.
The boys were all aged between 13 and 17 when Joblin preyed on them.
Detective Warwick Holmes, who led the investigation, recognised the courage and bravery of the victims as the most significant factor in securing the conviction of Joblin.
"For those victims to confront what occurred to them and remain strong throughout the prolonged investigation was courageous," he said.
"We hope that this result will enable all victims to move forward in their lives in a positive way.
"Joblin's predatory tactics of targeting vulnerable youths has severely impacted many lives and his offending has adversely effected the social tapestry of Christchurch."
One victim said in a victim impact statement that Joblin had abused him while he was a pupil at a Wellington school where Joblin was an English teacher in the late 70s and early 80s.
He later moved to Christchurch where he sexually assaulted eight at-risk boys while busking in the city centre.
