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Offender Databases Shaun Leonard

Shaun Kahu Leonard

Alias

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Offences

Raped, sexually violated, indecent assaulted, threatened to kill and attacked a Geraldine woman using a knife in her own home in March 2005
Also burgled the victim's home and stole her bra in January 2005

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1985

Current Location

Unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 9 years 6 months with a 4 year 9 month non-parole period in April 2005

Background
From Timaru Herald April 14th 2005
The prolonged sexual attack inflicted on a Geraldine woman in her own home, described by the crown yesterday as a "woman's worst nightmare", resulted in a nine and a half year prison sentence for the 21-year-old man responsible. Shaun Kahu Leonard, a Geraldine labourer, appeared for sentence in the Timaru District Court yesterday on five charges of sexual violation, three charges of rape, threatening to kill, assault using a knife as a weapon, indecent assault, aggravated burglary and burglary.

Judge David Holderness also imposed a minimum non-parole period of half of the nine and a half year term. Leonard had become infatuated with his victim. She knew him only to pass greeting to. This infatuation progressed to an obsession the court heard, to the extent Leonard broke into the woman's house in January and stole her bra. On March 5, after he had been drinking he formed the intent to rape her. He broke into her home using a knife, which had a 22cm blade, to jimmy a window.

At the time he was wearing the victim's bra and a woman's petticoat. In her unoccupied spare room he removed this clothing and urinated on a bed, before entering the woman's bedroom where she lay sleeping. He lay on top of her, held the knife to her throat, and threatened to kill her if she did not do as he said. The threats continued throughout the sexual attack. Before leaving he threatened her again but did not take his clothing with him. The next morning, when approached by police, he made a full admission.

Defence counsel Mike Radford said a psychiatric report had not found any evidence of diminished mental capacity. However, his client was remorseful and had a growing awareness of what he had done to his victim. He asked the Judge to give credit for Leonard's immediate guilty plea and his minimal previous criminal history. Leonard denied the attack was pre- meditated and that he was obsessed with the victim. Prosecutor Ian Murray, said these denials were at odds with Leonard's actions, particularly his first burglary of the victim's home.

He highlighted the attack included a home invasion, at night, with a weapon, which Leonard had threatened the victim with. The incident was prolonged and involved the victim being subjected to a series of indignities. Judge Holderness said the level of violence inherent in the offending was serious. "This offending was grave and the nature of this offending points strongly in my view, to a sentence which adequately protects the community and deters others from offending in this way."

The effects on the victim were serious and ongoing, she had been left feeling degraded and guilty. "She has a long way to go to overcome the effect of your actions on her," he told Leonard. "There is no doubt you chose a vulnerable victim and there was particular cruelty in the way this attack was inflicted." Judge Holderness adopted a starting sentence of 13 years imprisonment. He gave credit of three and a half years for the early guilty plea which meant the victim was not subject to giving evidence against Leonard.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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