February 04, 2010

Teen sex offender's 'terrifying' attitude to women

By David Clarkson

A 17-year-old Black Power gangster with an attitude towards women described in court as “terrifying”, has been jailed for five years for the rape of a 10-year-old girl.

Te Mana Rakatau was aged 15 when the offence occurred while he was on holiday in the Waikato in 2008.

His father is a former Black Power gang president who has now left the gang and has been trying to steer his son away from the gang as well.

Defence counsel Tony Greig told the Christchurch District Court the boy had now become a fully patched member of the gang as a means of protecting him in prison, where he could be targeted because of his family connections.

Rakatau was young enough for the Youth Court jurisdiction but the case went to a jury trial where he was convicted in October and he was sentenced in the adult court today. Automatic name suppression no longer applies when young offenders are dealt with in the District Court.

He had denied the rape of the girl, and still denied it when pre-sentence reports were prepared by probation and a health assessor.

He has alleged that the girl was put up to the accusation by her mother as part of a grievance or conspiracy against Rakatau’s family, but Judge David Saunders said at the sentencing today that he rejected that idea.

“The injuries she received could not have been something that was part of any conspiracy,” he said.

Crown prosecutor Claire Boshier asked for an increase in the jail time imposed on Rakatau because of the nature of the offence. He was much stronger and bigger than the girl and there had been some premeditation in choosing the location.

“His attitude towards women displayed in the report is frankly quite terrifying,” she said. “And his attitude towards the victim leaves a lot to be desired.”

His views about women and sex meant the judge should take into account the risk that Rakatau posed to the community, she said.

There was no remorse, no acknowledgement of the offending, and only contempt for the victim.

Mr Greig said it was a shame Rakatau had not come before the Youth Court sooner because early intervention may have been successful.

Rakatau’s father had been pivotal in bringing him to this point, and “he is going to be pivotal in taking him away from this place”. The father had broken his association with gangs some years ago and was now leading an entirely different lifestyle.

“He’s been working very hard on his son,” said Mr Greig.

He asked that Rakatau not be sent to jail to do a sex offenders’ programme because it was unlikely to succeed and would lead to a longer sentence. “His rehabilitation will start with his family.”

Judge Saunders said Rakatau had been at a function at a Waikato marae. He was convicted of raping the girl at a toilet block there.

The girl’s father noticed the awkward way the girl was walking when she left the toilet block but she did not make an immediate complaint. That happened when she returned to Christchurch and was seen by a doctor and a specialist interviewer.

The judge said the health assessor’s report gave some insight into his development and how his attitudes had been shaped by his upbringing.

He was seen as having a severe conduct disorder which could become an anti-social personality disorder in adulthood. His anti-social behaviour emerged when he was abusing alcohol and cannabis.

He had difficulty reading and writing which could indicate a learning disorder. He may also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

“The psychologist says you are a young man who is destined to be a violent and anti-social person unless you take stock of the situation and try to engage in some programmes and therapy.

“You have to learn that you can’t get your way through violent and anti-social behaviour.”

The judge said: “There are some disturbing aspects about the way you think about women and sexual intercourse. These are matters you need to think about and reflect on as you serve this sentence.”

He was concerned that Rakatau had displayed his immaturity with his comments about his desire to be part of the Black Power gang when his father was trying to steer him away from that. “He is encouraging you to think in other ways than what the gang life may give you.”