The former leader of Gloriavale has been sentenced to 26 months in prison for abusing six girls and women at the West Coast commune.
In July, Howard Temple pleaded guilty to 12 charges related to unwanted touching, hugging, and kissing, spanning more than two decades.
Initially, the 85-year-old was facing 24 charges at the Greymouth District Court, but on day three of the trial, the charges were amended to five counts of indecent assault, five of doing an indecent act and two of common assault.
In total Judge Raoul Neave sentenced Temple to 26 months behind bars.
The court later told 1News that Temple’s lawyers indicated they would appeal the sentence.
Temple was then granted bail pending an appeal hearing at the High Court. A date has not been set.
This ruling was made behind closed doors, with media not notified until after the decision was made.
Earlier, Crown prosecutor Kerry White said Temple’s actions were premeditated and in 2018, he was spoken to by police about “the unwanted and uninvited touch”.
Despite the warning, ” he’s continued with the offending”, White said.
Three of the survivors came face to face with Temple when they read their victim impact statements to the court during today’s sentencing.
One woman, who has name suppression, said Temple had no idea the impact of his actions.
“You were supposed to be the ultimate, can-do-no-sin, holy, called of God, man of God, you used your power over me to exert your sexual wants and needs.
“Your sexual desires came above what was right and you allowed yourself to take what wasn’t yours.”
‘That was your power over me’
The court heard that Temple’s status in the community created a power imbalance and left women in particular vulnerable.
The woman said when Temple put his hands on her body, wherever and whenever he wanted, she was anything other than safe.
“I felt sick and tense, I wanted to pull away, I wanted to scream, but I would be in trouble if I did. That was your power over me, I was always wrong, and I believe you always knew that.
“I thought I was the wrong one for feeling that way, who was I to say no to you?
“One of the few men who could change the whole trajectory of my life, I knew you had the power to make my life a living hell if you chose to.”
The recovery process had been long and mentally exhausting for the woman, who struggled to trust herself and her decisions, “fearing what might happen next”.
“Until a month ago, wearing a skirt felt unsafe because of the way it reminded me of the harassment.
“I struggle to look a man in the eye and have a normal conversation because this was sexualised.”
While she found work in the hospitality sector, the woman found it difficult working for men.
“Dealing with male customers also made me feel unsafe. I became so emotionally drained that I ended up more depressed and quit my job.”
Another female victim said she won’t stop trying to protect others and ensuring that their voices are heard.
“Howard, I do pray that you will listen to the truth as the truth will set you free and I hope that you will take accountability for your actions.
“As a man in your position I pray that you will not repeat these actions again if they are wrong and harmful.”
Defence lawyer Michael Vesty said his client had reflected on his behaviour and the “way in which that has not only affected the victims but the ripples have affected many others not just within the community”.
“The defence position is that the sentencing aims and objectives really need to be focused upon Mr Temple as he is now an 85-year-old man of diminishing physical and cognitive health.”
“It’s accepted too that the victims had a real inability to act following the offending. It’s accepted that given the situation they were in, they couldn’t easily tell family. They couldn’t easily confront Mr Temple. And they would have been acutely aware of the perceived repercussions of them speaking out.”
A sentence of home detention had been sought.
Temple quit as Glorivale’s Overseeing Shepherd after his guilty plea.