A High Court judge has deferred the sentencing of a man who admitted offences against four girls after raising the possibility that material on his electronic devices could point to five more underage victims. The judge asked the prosecution to clarify the case facts and video evidence before the hearing continues.
The 22-year-old admitted 12 offences relating to girls aged 14 to 15. Those admissions concern four complainants; the possible additional victims were not among the offences he admitted.
The five possible additional victims have not been identified.
The case came to light after one of the four complainants, identified in court as X, died by suicide. The Witness and HK01 reported that her mother later found messages on X’s iPad in which she had told a friend she was sexually assaulted, and reported the matter to police.
The judge cited a psychiatric assessment that rated the risk of reoffending as high and a psychological assessment that rated it medium to high. The assessments also found a lack of remorse. The defendant’s written plea, meanwhile, said he regretted his actions.
The defendant remains in custody. Mitigation and sentencing are scheduled to resume on October 22.