A young girl’s courage to confront Stephen Rolston, her abuser, after recognising the signs of sexual abuse from a school presentation, not only halted the abuse but also led to Rolston’s conviction.
Rolston, who was active in community service, including volunteering at his church, was sentenced in the Wellington District Court for sexual violation and indecency with a young girl. His actions spanned from 2000 to 2007, during which he exploited his role within the community to perpetrate his crimes.
Judge Tania Warburton, in sentencing Rolston to seven years in prison, highlighted the secretive nature of such offenses, often hidden behind a facade of good character.
Despite Rolston’s previous clean record and community involvement, his lack of remorse and minimisation of the crimes influenced a limited sentence reduction.
