Sentencing for convicted paedophile James Parker is underway at the Whangarei High Court, where a community has expressed their shock and anger at his behaviour.
The 38-year-old is being sentenced for 74 charges of sexual offences against children, which he committed while he was a teacher and deputy principal at Pamapuria School near Kaitaia.
Two courtrooms at the Whangarei High Court were set aside for Parker's appearance, due to the volume of people in attendance.
The court has this morning heard victim impact statements by those he abused and their families, who spoke of the trust and faith they had in Parker – a man who was once regarded a positive member of the community.
One boy cried as he spoke of the sexual abuse he suffered in 2008.
"I told some of my own family members about it but they didn't believe me," he said.
"They told me I was lying, I remember them saying, 'oh he wouldn't do that'. This made me start to hate my family because they believed you over me.
"Even today, relationships with family aren't good, I had a lot of anger inside of me, I started smoking cigarettes, even weed, to forget what you did to me."
Parker sat in the dock with his head in his hands as statements were read out and did not look at any of his victims.
The boy spoke of an incident where Parker removed him and another child from class in and told them he could lose his job if they continued making accusations about him.
"I remember crying and feeling like shit, I even felt bad inside like I'd done something wrong," he said.
The boy told the court of the guilt he felt after reporting the incidents to police last year, and thoughts of suicide he had.
The boy's mother spoke of the friendship she had with Parker, who taught her son at, and her guilt after not initially believing her son's allegations.
"I also felt guilty for other victims... I feel disappointment that people were more interested in the glamorous profile of James Parker... more than the victims who bear the scars," she said.
Another mother told the court she fears for the mental well-being of her son and other children.
"I am on constant alert that my children are so sad that a moment alone could be the end of him, or one of them," she said.
"We will try to fix ourselves, and our families. But as for you Jamie, I am ashamed that I ever knew you."
A pupil who worked on Parker's farm told the court of the abuse suffered over five years.
"I always believed he was somebody I could trust. My mother always trusted him. Once the abuse started I couldn't tell my mum because she thought he was a good person. I didn't want her to think otherwise."
The pupil's mother spoke of her friendship with Parker, saying she cannot bear to watch a DVD of her wedding because he is on it.
"I no longer know how to trust people. I have been overcautious with my children and suspicious of any other adult's intentions," she said.
"Sick is a polite way of excusing you from your horrendous behaviour... you are a very cold, lying, deceiving person who can never be trusted again."
Another mother spoke of the break-down of her marriage because of her son's aggressive behaviour while Parker abused him, with neither parent understanding why the boy was acting out until the allegations were revealed last year.
Crown prosecutor Mike Smith said Parker's offending "defies summary", saying it encompassed 29 victims over 13 years, with children as young as eight-years-old and as old as 15.
The Crown called for a sentence of preventive detention, with Parker being jailed without a finite sentence.
"Even that sentence won't fix the harm, even that sentence won't cure the ill, but it is the best that this court, that our system can do, to try and stop him."
Mr Smith praised the children who approached police with initial claims of abuse carried out by Parker.
"His offending only stopped because of the courage of these young boys, it's only when they spoke out, when they stepped forward, did he, would he, finally accept what he had done."
Mr Smith said Parker continues to minimise the effects of his offending and blames the media for having a negative impact on the well-being of the children involved.
"It is not the media interest that is at fault, it is not the boy's fault, it is not the families' fault. The fault, the crime, rests with the prisoner."
Parker's lawyer Alex Witten-Hannah told the court Parker is confident if he receives appropriate treatment he will never re-offend and read psychiatric and psychological reports which suggest Parker's behaviour was consistent with sexual offenders with a low to moderate risk of re-offense.
Mr Witten-Hannah told the court the disturbing details of Parker's offending, the bulk of which took place between 2006 and 2012, which ranged from the touching of genitals to sexual intercourse with two victims last year.
At one point Justice Paul Heath criticised Mr Witten-Hannah for attempting to use the large media presence to lobby Parliament to change sentencing laws to allow judges to order treatment for offenders such as Parker and disagreed with Mr Witten-Hannah's claims Parker was not able to seek help.
Sentencing is expected to continue through to this afternoon.
3 News
source: newshub archive
