Vile ex-police officer, 79, who laughed as he sexually assaulted three young girls is jailed for 14 years
- Former NZ police officer jailed for a series of historical sexual assaults on girls
- Graham Minnell, 79, found guilty of 20 sex crimes between 1994 and 2006
- Sentenced for 14-and-a-half years with a minimum non-parole period of seven
A former police officer will spend up to 14 years behind bars for a series of sexual assaults on three girls under the age of 12.
A jury in a New Zealand Court found Graham Minnell, 79, guilty of 20 historical sex crimes committed between 1994 and 2006.
Minnell was found guilty on 11 charges of unlawful sexual violation, three charges of an indecent act on a child aged under-12, four charges of indecently assaulting a child under-12 and one of sexual violation by rape.
A former New Zealand police diver was found guilty of 20 sex crimes against three girls under the age of 12 (stock image)
He was handed a 14-and-a-half year sentence with a minimum non-parole period of seven years at Whanganui District Court on Wednesday.
Two of Minnell's victims were in court but turned down the chance to read their victim impact statements, The New Zealand Herald reported.
'You have blighted their young adulthood and indeed you have cast a shadow over their maturity and their family life,' Judge Philip Crayton told Minnell during sentencing.
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Minnell was seemingly a model citizen until his offending began against victim A in 1994 in Whanganui on North Island's west coast.
He later paid her for sex when she fell on hard times.
Victim B was raped by him while victim C was sexually assaulted while she was watching a movie when he took her on a holiday.
'She told you not to touch her like that ever again. Your response was to laugh at her,' Judge Crayton said.
Graham Minnell was jailed for 14-and-a-half years in Whanganui District Court (pictured)
The judge took into account his previous good character as a police officer and original member of the police dive team.
But he said Minnell had to be accountable for the long term and life changing harm he caused to his victims and the sentence must provide protection for the community.
'You are someone who did many acts which had a positive effect upon your family and the community. I cannot give any further acknowledgement for what has taken place since that time,' Judge Crayton said.
Judge Philip Crayton told Minnell during sentencing that he robbed his three victims of their childhood (stock image)
