Glenn Lindsay Richards, 30, was sentenced in the Dunedin District Court yesterday on four charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, four charges of sexual conduct with a child under 12 and two charges of assaulting children.
Earlier this year, a jury found the defendant guilty of the 10 charges.
Richards maintained his innocence at yesterday’s sentencing and at trial accused the victims of fabricating their version of events.
The court heard that over about 10 years, the defendant would indecently touch the children.
He would bribe one victim with food and fizzy drinks if they let him perform what he called "satisfactions" on them.
If they did something Richards did not like, he would hit, slap or punch them.
On one occasion, Richards persuaded a victim to take their clothes off, saying they were "dirty".
The pair then kicked a football around and the defendant inappropriately touched them while they did so.
The offending was revealed when one victim told their school counsellor, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Clementine Flatley said the crimes had "significant and ongoing impacts" for the victims.
She highlighted each assault was prolonged, the children were vulnerable and there was an element of grooming to Richards’ behaviour.
Counsel John Westgate said the case was "sad all round".
"No matter what you send him away for today, it’s devastating ... for the defendant," he said.
Richards was supported by his family, who attended the court hearing.
Judge Michael Turner said the offending was "plainly sexually deviant".
He highlighted the ongoing impacts for the victims, including them having to relive traumatic experiences at trial.
Because he continued to deny his offending, the judge said Richards’ rehabilitative prospects were "marginal at best".
He sentenced Richards to six years, five months’ imprisonment.
The defendant was automatically added to the Child Sex Offender Register.
As Richards was taken to the cells, his mother yelled out "love you, darling".
