Saturday, June 20, 2026

Hamilton doctor jailed for decades of sexual abuse of three girls

William Reeder jailed

Former Hamilton doctor William James Reeder, 79, has been sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of 50%, after pleading guilty to 15 sexual assault charges involving three girls over a period spanning from the late 1980s to 2024.

The court heard Reeder used his position of trust and authority to offend against victims who were known to him and their families, causing long-term psychological harm. Judge Arthur Tompkins described the offending as predatory and agreed with Crown submissions that Reeder exploited his superior position as a doctor.

The judge rejected claims of genuine remorse, describing Reeder’s expressions of regret as superficial, and imposed the sentence after adopting a six-year starting point and applying a 25% discount for guilty pleas. Reeder, who had been registered as a doctor in New Zealand since 1971, held a practising certificate until November 2025.



The Medical Council said serious sexual offending falls well below the standards expected of medical practitioners and confirmed it liaises with police when concerns arise about a doctor’s fitness to practise.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. What about the ones injecting kids with poison shots causing sudden death?

    Are they just the big sweetie pies now????????????

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