Auckland man 43-year-old Kane Lucas Penk, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison after being convicted of grooming and repeatedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl who had trusted him enough to disclose her prior sexual abuse by her mother’s ex-boyfriend.
Instead of offering support, Penk exploited the girl’s vulnerability, using driving lessons and other opportunities to isolate her, ignoring her pleas and tears while sending inappropriate texts calling her his “secret angel.”
Despite Penk’s defence attributing his actions to severe methamphetamine addiction and claiming memory lapses, Judge David Sharp rejected addiction as an excuse, noting many addicts do not abuse children, and refused a remorse discount after Penk forced the traumatised victim through a full trial.
The judge praised the girl’s bravery and emphasised that she had done nothing wrong, while assessments showed Penk poses a medium risk of reoffending and high risk of harm to others.
