The actions of a couple who teamed up to sexually abuse children aged between three and 14 have been described as sickening and depraved and offending that grossly violated society's norms.
Andrew Alan Williams left, Laken Maree Rose right, in the High Court in Rotorua. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Andrew Alan Williams, 54, Laken Maree Rose, 32, have been sentenced to long prison terms after appearing in the High Court in Rotorua on Friday.
Williams received a sentence of 23 years and five months, with a non-parole period of nine years and four months.
Rose was given 19 years and five months and she must serve of seven years and nine months before parole can be considered.
The now former couple were active within the equestrian world and the offending often took place either at their Cambridge property or further a field, including the home of one victim.
Williams was convicted on 56 charges involving seven children and Rose 55 charges relating to four children.
The multiple charges cover a range of offences including rape, unlawful sexual connection, indecent assault and making objectionable publications.
Justice Muir said the scale of their offending was almost unprecedented.
"It is in fact difficult to imagine more egregious offending against children. Words such as sickening and depraved come readily to mind."
He said the two worked together and he quoted one text from Williams to Rose.
"Mr Williams; Be ages one to four, no talking. Rose; Yeah babe that's the ages I want and really you can just do whatever you want to them."
Justice Muir said all of the victims were highly vulnerable on account of their ages.
"The impacts of the offending are already apparent here in psychological trauma, attempted self harm, and feelings of parental guilt. The latter born of a belief, incorrect but nevertheless understandable that the parents concerned could have done more to protect their children. It may be many years yet before the full extent of the harm is identified. It can only be hoped infantile amnesia affords them some protection later in life."
The parent of one child read her victim impact statement in court, eyeballing both Williams and Rose at times.
She spoke of the devastating effects the crime has had on her family.
"Taking your child to a rape examination is an experience I wish on no other parent. Done so incredibly kindly. You would almost think you were there for a routine check up, except you as their parent know why you are there and that gravity sits over you like an uncomfortable, hot, heavy jacket."
She said it has left her with so many unanswered questions.
"What could I have done differently. Why did I not hear something. Why did I not see. Why my child?"
She said the innocence of the children was so casually taken.
"I will never understand Mr Williams why you did not seek help. Rather you chose to destroy and violate our children instead. I will never understand how you, an adult female Ms Rose put these precious, beautiful, innocent trusting children in a dangerous predators hands."
She described what the two did as nothing short of monstrous.
Speaking outside of court, Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier from the Child Protection Team described it as a complex and difficult investigation that had a huge volume of distressing material.
"The offending by Rose and Williams has had an horrendous impact on the victims and their families. While nothing can reverse the terrible ordeal the victims and their families have suffered, I hope that the sentencing today helps provide a small measure of comfort to them."
Detective Sergeant Brazier said it was the worst possible violation of children that can be imagined.
He said it was highly unusual for a woman to be involved.
"Very seldom in history I think have we seen a female who was involved with so much offending as a principal offender, as opposed to a party. Well, Rose was a principal offender, so she was not only grooming these children but she was actively participating in the violation of some of them."
He was in no doubt that had the families not come forward when they did, and the police act, the two would still be in the community offending against vulnerable children.
