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George Swann
Kerry
Indecent assault of and sexual intercourse with a 13 year old Ashburton girl in 1976 and 1977
Convicted in 2005
.
.
none known
Born 1945
Last known to be in Temuka
Sentenced to two years six months in May 2005
Paroled April 2006
Background
Timaru Herald story here
The sentencing of her abuser was a turning point in her life, a victim told the Timaru District Court yesterday, saying she had spent the last 27 years blaming herself for the sexual abuse she suffered as a teenager.
She was speaking of George Kerry Swann, a 60-year-old farmer from the Craigmore area, who was found guilty by a jury last month on three charges of indecent assault and two of sexual violation of a girl who was under his care and protection. The woman was abused by Swann in 1976 and 1977.
Judge David Holderness sentenced Swann in the Timaru District Court yesterday to two and and half years imprisonment, after giving him a one year discount on account of his age, his heart condition, his previously good reputation in the community and his unblemished criminal record. As a 13-year-old the victim had stayed on two occasions with Swann's family to look after his children. Her family had also gone on holidays with the accused and attended functions together.
It was on such occasions Swann indecently assaulted and sexually violated her.
Yesterday the victim read her victim impact report to the court which told of her difficulties in forming relationships, her feelings of guilt and solitude since the abuse.
"Twenty-seven of the last twenty-eight years I have felt that I was somehow to blame and that I was disgusting and had no right to complain. It was like trying not to vomit for 26 years. "I was young and vulnerable and was manipulated and coerced by a man 20 years my senior."
She spoke of the court process which had been difficult, stressful, and had cost her family thousands in legal fees. By not admitting his guilt, she had been forced to give evidence of the most intimate details of her life to strangers.
"A genuine show of remorse or an indication of guilt would have helped me move on." Crown solicitor Tim Gresson stressed the breach of trust involved in the offending and the prisoner's lack of remorse and continued denial. Swann had also attempted to place blame on the victim.
Defence counsel Campbell Savage commented on Swann's standing in the community, his poor mental and physical health, and suggested a community-based sentence could address the need for deterrence. Protection of the community was not a priority, and Mr Savage suggested that sentencing Swann be based on the position in the late 1970s when prison would not have been inevitable.
Judge Holderness disagreed, saying prison would have been likely given the nature of offending. The judge highlighted the aggravating features of the offending including Swann's breach of a supervisory role, the victim's age and vulnerability, manipulation of the victim, the degree of pre-meditation and the lifetime of guilt and emotional turmoil inflicted on the victim. Judge Holderness said he was not surprised at the jury's verdict and commented on Swann's continued denial and lack of attempt to make amends with the victim.
"You are almost twice the age you were when you commenced the offending and still deny it, despite admissions made to the police last year." While the issue of reparation for emotional harm for the victim was raised, Judge Holderness said given such redress was not available in the period during which the offending took place it would not be appropriate in this instance.
