Alistair George Whyte, 68, was sentenced to eight months’ home detention when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday after admitting five charges of indecent assault.
The court heard the defendant abused the girl repeatedly between 1980 and 1984, including occasions when he violated her while they were both on a farm motorbike.
The offending stopped when the girl had her first boyfriend, the court heard.
In a statement, the victim said the offending had impacted every aspect of her life.
"I have lived with the feelings of shame, guilt and blame for 44 years," she said.
"My view of the world and human beings, especially men, is quite skewed."
Counsel Bill Dawkins said the day was significant for his client and the victim.
"Once you impose the sentence, it genuinely is hoped by the defendant that both of them can move on," Mr Dawkins said.
"He will continue to reflect upon what he has done."
Judge Duncan Harvey said Whyte had lived a "blameless life" since the offending.
"You have indeed made a positive contribution to society and your community," he said.
He accepted the defendant’s age and ill-health would make a term of imprisonment difficult for him.
Whyte offered to pay reparation, which the judge said he believed was an expression of true remorse and not an attempt by the defendant to buy his way out of trouble.
Judge Harvey ordered Whyte to pay $40,000 to the victim and did not register him as a child sex offender.
The judge declined an application by the Otago Daily Times to photograph the defendant.
