6 May 2014

Man jailed for historical abuse

7:54 pm on 6 May 2014

A former school tutor's been jailed for abusing a young boy more than 40 years ago.

Keith William Dixon has been sentenced to two years and two months in prison for what a judge said were serious, and not insignificant crimes.

Dixon earlier admitted two charges of inducing a boy under 16 to do an indecent act.

His victim was nine years old when the offending happened over an 11-month span in 1973.

Judge Eddie Paul has permanently suppressed the school's name in the Auckland District Court.

He said Dixon's offending was selfish and for his own gratification, and it was a significant and gross breach of trust.

"The victim recalls what happened to him 40 years ago and how that has affected his life. He says perhaps powerfully that you used your power as an adult for your own selfish desires with no regard to anything but your own satisfaction."

Judge Paul said the crimes were harmful, carried out in front of other boys, and the victim impact statement made for sad reading.

He also said it was disturbing Dixon was convicted for similar crimes years later in 1997.

"Your behaviour was pre-meditated, there was the presence of other boys. These crimes are not usually carried out in the presence of others and yet that did not dissuade you. In my view this particular offending is harmful."

The Crown argued that an aggravating factor in the historical offending was the age difference between Dixon and his young victim. It also argued that there had been a significant breach of trust and it was premeditated.

Dixon's lawyer, John Corby, wanted a community-based sentence rather than the jail term he was given.

He told the court that denunciation and deterrence would be greater if he was left in the community having to explain what he did.