Warning: This story discusses issues of sexual abuse and may be distressing

Last month Hamilton teenager Justin Perry was sent to prison for sexually assaulting four young women - mostly as they slept.

The first victim was 12 when Perry, described as “a trusted friend”, violated her for the first time.

The second was in bed when Perry, who “was clearly affected by excessive alcohol consumption” got in with her and touched her inappropriately.

A third girl was assaulted repeatedly while at her friend’s party.

Perry was in a “fledgling relationship” with the fourth victim and woke to him performing a sexual act she had not consented to.

She has spoken to the Herald about her experience with Perry for this article.

Perry denied 17 charges related to the sexual assaults of four teenage girls.

But after a judge-alone trial earlier this year he was found guilty of one charge of rape, seven counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, five of sexual conduct with a young person under 16, two of indecent assault and one of sexual conduct with a young person.

He was sentenced to four years in prison - reduced from a starting point of nine years after Judge Tini Clark awarded a discount of 60 months for his age and a good prospect of rehabilitation.

She said while Perry’s offending was “completely unacceptable” the teen “is not a bad person” - rather, a youth who had made “terrible decisions”.

At sentencing in December, victim impact statements were read to the court - from the girls Perry violated and one of their mothers.

Ava - not her real name - read her statement to Perry in person.

She said what he had done to her had a “profound and lasting impact” and resulted in her enduring “immense emotional, psychological and physical suffering”.

“I’ve grappled with severe anxiety, a feeling of constant sense of shame and violation. I still harbour the belief that it was my fault,” she said.

“Learning I was not alone weeks later … was just as heart-wrenching. However, this revelation gave me strength. Initially, I was hesitant to come forward but I felt compelled to support another victim … I just wanted justice more for her than for myself and to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

“I struggle to comprehend why you felt the need to force yourself on to me and the others … your actions have impacted me negatively … I genuinely want you to sit and reflect on your actions and to get the help you need.

“No one should have to endure the trauma of sexual assault, and holding perpetrators accountable is essential for the healing and safety of others everywhere.”

Justin Perry, aka Turanga Perry, pictured in 2022. Perry has been sentenced to prison for the rape and sexual violation of four young women. Photo / Facebook

After taking time to digest Perry’s sentence and get through Christmas with her family, Ava spoke to the Herald about the enormity of her assault and the aftermath.

She said Perry being jailed marked the end of an awful time in her life.

“I'm doing well [now]. It’s been a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and a feeling of being able to close that chapter in my life and gain closure,” she said.

“I feel like I’ve done a lot of healing. It’s been a long three years and a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings.

“I think that it will always be in the back of my mind and leave a scar. However, I feel like I’m on a good path and although it hasn’t been a good experience obviously, I have learnt a lot of lessons and made some positives out of the situation.

Ava said the sentencing was “very challenging” and described the courtroom as being “very tense with high emotions from both sides involved”.

“The whole court process was a long, stressful, drawn out process and there were a lot of uncertainties and unknowns going into it,” she said.

“When we got to the point of sentencing where Judge Clark was reading out that Perry couldn’t be [sentenced to] home detention or imprisonment for any crimes he committed under the age of 18, [and] began to read out the discounts for the convictable crimes - at that point, I think we all felt our hearts drop to the pit of our stomachs.

“It honestly felt like he would get away with everything scot-free for a minute there.

“OveralI think it was a good and fair result. I feel conflicted myself as it isn’t an easy or nice feeling knowing you’re helping send someone to prison, especially when I take into consideration his age, and that only being a year older than myself.

“However, I reflect back to the pain his actions have inflicted on myself and the others - all younger than myself. Imprisonment needed to happen, not only for justice of what happened but also to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”

Ava said she felt “lucky” her case was resolved.

“There are many others out there affected by sexual assault that just don’t get the justice they deserve,” she said.

“Although I felt lucky that we had Judge Clark, who I felt did a very fair and thorough job for both sides, there were a few things … throughout the court process which felt really unfair to us victims, and I believe are holes in the justice system itself.”

Hamilton District Court.

Ava said listening to Judge Clark discuss Perry’s good character and promising future was tough and left her feeling “conflicted”.

“Do I think he is a pure evil human being? No,” she said.

“However I don’t believe his actions were merely mistakes. The similarities between the offending were nearly the exact same for all of us victims, and that is not what I would classify as a mistake, but a repeated behaviour that he thought he could get away with... [it] honestly made me feel sick.”

Ava felt if only one of the victims had disclosed their assault they “wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on” in court.

But all of them together provided a pattern of offending that was “very clear”.

“Proving that this was not simply a person making a mistake with not knowing what he was doing,” she said.

“Even a 5-year-old child knows wrong from right - there is no excuse that he did not know what he was doing was wrong in this situation. In my experience and my opinion, he was calculated and opportunistic in his offending - someone who thought they would never get caught, not someone making a mistake.”

Ava was sure Perry had “some good qualities” and his “charming, personable, outgoing nature” indicated he was “a good person”.

“But when you put yourself in my shoes and look back, that nature was used in a way to manipulate and abuse,” she said.

“I hope that he can reflect and eventually find remorse for his actions towards us - although I don’t believe that will happen.

“I hope he will get the therapy he needs and I hope that he will feel to not act in such a way to another human again.”

Ava - not her real name - spoke to the Herald about her experience in a bid to help other sexual assault victims. Photo / File

Ava said it was a relief to have the court process completed and she had no regrets about coming forward, even though it was harrowing.

“[I’m] glad I went through that process to get the result - for the others more than for myself -and to hopefully prevent him from doing that to anyone in the future,” she said.

She decided to speak to the Herald to create awareness around consent - both for other victims and offenders.

“Consent is crucial,” she said.

“Lines can definitely get blurred by mistake in some cases, although in our cases the consent was non-existent and definitely not a mistake.

“It is so important to make sure both sides are consenting and want to take part in such activities. If the other person is unconscious for any reason - leave them be, they cannot consent.

“As well, if anyone wants to stop at any point they should be able to say no and that should be accepted.”

Ava said it was important for other victims to know they were not alone.

“You are not what happened to you,” said the teen.

“If you are comfortable enough please tell someone trusted - a parent, family member, teacher, school counsellor - anyone. It is not something to be ashamed of, and it is not your fault regardless of if you have been having fun, drinking or the clothes you wear.

“I really love the quote from the series on Netflix called Sex Education. In one scene the character Jean Milburn, who plays a sex therapist, consults a character named Amy who is a schoolgirl that was sexually assaulted on a bus.

“Amy grapples with the trauma of the assault, questioning several things including, whether or not if she smiled at the perpetrator, that maybe he wouldn’t have done what he did.

“Jean replies: ‘What that man did to you on the bus has nothing to do with your smile or your personality and is only about him. And it is absolutely not your fault.’

“I really resonate with that quote, and I believe it brings light to these types of situations and is such an important message for anyone who has experienced something similar.”

SEXUAL HARM

Where to get help: If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email [email protected]
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz