Sentencing — doing indecent act on young person — sexual connection with young person — male assaults female — R v Butterworth [2013] NZHC 616 — Hessell v R [2010] NZSC 135, [2011] 1 NZLR 607. The defendant appeared for sentence on eight charges of doing an indecent act on a young person and seven of sexual connection with a young person. The offending covered a three-year period and the victim was the defendant's stepdaughter. The aggravating features were the age disparity, vulnerable victim, abuse of trust, grooming and manipulation. The starting point for the sexual offending was five and a half years' imprisonment, with a six-month uplift for the assaults. The Court declined to give the defendant a discount for good character, remorse or health issues, but did give a 20 percent discount for guilty plea. The final sentence was four years nine months' imprisonment. Judgment Date: 12 April 2018. * * * Note: names have been changed to comply with legal requirements. * * *