Jeremy Hore appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week after pleading guilty to indecent assault, and being found guilty of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and assault at a trial in April.
But the Otago Daily Times cannot reveal the identities of the witnesses, the sex or age of the victim or the location at which the crimes occurred.
At a hearing in the Dunedin District Court last week Judge Kevin Phillips imposed the "blanket" suppression orders.
At sentencing this week the victim, in a statement read by Crown prosecutor Pip Norman, called Hore’s actions "truly horrific".
"I do believe this was planned and thought out," they said.
"[You] consistently preyed on me throughout the night."
The victim said they had formerly been a confident, trusting and resilient person but all that had changed following the ordeal in 2021.
They had been diagnosed with PTSD and their work-life was now constantly interrupted by counselling sessions.
"Fortunately, the physical consequences were only minor. The emotional scars by your actions, however, remain to this very day and will likely continue long into the future," the victim said.
"What you have done will stay with me for life."
Hore and the victim were in a group with others when the crimes happened.
The court heard at trial that after a meal, they all consumed alcohol.
The victim went to bed fully clothed and inside a sleeping bag and described waking to the defendant’s breath on their neck and his hand firmly gripping them.
"It hurt so much," the victim told police during an interview five days later.
"I could tell by his voice it was him. He wasn’t saying things — it was more mumbles."
Judge Robinson said the violation lasted up to 10 minutes and only ended when the victim shoved Hore off the bed.
Counsel Anne Stevens KC stressed her client had no previous convictions and regularly contributed to the wider community in which he lived.
"I would suggest this is a man who has acted out of character," she said.
Judge Robinson accepted that characterisation and said references before the court described Hore in "glowing terms".
"I accept it was unlikely to occur had it not been for a significant level of intoxication," he said.
However, the judge said there were clear signals the victim was not interested in the defendant and his explanation that he "misread signals" made little sense when measured against the evidence.
Hore was jailed for two years nine months and ordered to pay the victim $5000.
