26 Oct 2016

Former wrestler jailed on historical sex charges

7:53 pm on 26 October 2016

Warning: This story contains graphic details of sexual violence.

A former New Zealand representative wrestler jailed for abducting and raping a woman in her home in 1994 has been described in court as a narcissist and a predator.

Devon Charles Bond at his sentencing in the High Court in Christchurch.

Devon Charles Bond at his sentencing in the High Court in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry

Devon Charles Bond was sentenced in the High Court in Christchurch today to 12 years and nine months in prison, with a minimum term of eight years, on historical sex charges.

In May, Bond admitted in the court to abducting, sexually violating and raping a woman in her home in 1994.

The cold case was solved after Bond's arrest two years ago for assaulting a police officer.

A DNA sample taken at the time of his arrest matched that taken from the scene of the crime two decades earlier.

In her victim impact statement, which was read by Crown prosecutor Claire Bouchier, his victim talked about Bond feeling smug in thinking he had got away with attacking her.

"Well, you didn't get away with it. Science has caught you and there is no way out of it for you. What makes you believe that you have the right to ruin women's lives? What right did you have to invade my home? What right did you have to tie me up, what right did you have to attack me using a knife?"

The woman, whose name was suppressed, talked about the impact Bond's conviction would have on his partner and their daughter.

"For your family, and especially for your daughter, it must have come as quite a shock. Like me, they now have to live with the aftermath of your predatory and brutal past."

While his 1994 offending went unpunished for 20 years, Bond was put in prison in 1995 for kidnapping a woman with the intention of raping her.

He was released in 1998, went on to start a family and largely stayed out of trouble.

His lawyer, Tony Grieg, said this meant there was a low chance of him re-offending.

"He hasn't just led a sexual-offence-free life [since then], he's led a pro-social life. He has worked without fail, his employer could not speak more highly of him and his partner has stood by him."

However, Justice Nation said he could not ignore the descriptions of Bond in his pre-sentence report as a narcissist and a predator.

"You used your victim to fend anger you felt towards others. After she was tied up and you had the pillow case over her head and while you were removing her tracksuit pants, she asked why you were doing this. You replied, 'you b*****s are all the same'."

Justice Nation said he was sceptical about Bond's claim he couldn't remember his offending, especially given the high degree of pre-meditation involved in the attack.

However, he declined the Crown's application to have a sentence of preventive detention applied, saying there was a good chance he would not re-offend once he was released from prison.

If you need support relating to sexual abuse or violence, call Rape Crisis on 0800 88 33 00 or visit www.rapecrisisnz.org.nz.