Wickliffe said the Rotorua man, aged 21 at the time of offending, had an \u201cunhealthy and disturbing\u201d preoccupation with children and \u201csome sort of fetish\u201d.<\/p>\n
The crimes occurred on December 3, 2024, when he broke into a Rotorua family\u2019s home through an open window while they were sleeping.<\/p>\n
He collected dirty laundry, specifically female underwear belonging to the 14-year-old victim and her two younger sisters.<\/p>\n
He went into the 14-year-old\u2019s bedroom. Just after 1am, she awoke to him lying on top of her and felt him trying to \u201cturn her by the buttock area\u201d.<\/p>\n
She screamed, he ran, and the girl\u2019s parents woke up.<\/p>\n
Tatham-Tahere was arrested the following day, and a search warrant was executed at his address. The bag containing the female underwear was located.<\/p>\n
He had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of doing an indecent act on a young person and one charge of burglary.<\/p>\n
He initially denied the indecent act charge, and had elected a trial by jury, but changed his plea in February.<\/p>\n
At sentencing yesterday, Crown prosecutor Laurie McMaster said it was a \u201cterrifying incident\u201d with \u201clifelong\u201d impacts for the family.<\/p>\n
McMaster said a starting sentence of three years and eight months\u2019 imprisonment was justified. She asked for his release conditions to include not being able to enter Rotorua.<\/p>\n
Tatham-Tahere\u2018s lawyer, Xu Wang, asked for a two-year starting point.<\/p>\n
He asked for discounts relating to his client\u2019s age and previous good character.<\/p>\n
James Tatham-Tahere, pictured at an earlier appearance via audio-visual link in the Rotorua District Court. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
Judge Wickliffe commended the police for the quick arrest as she considered Tatham-Tahere \u201ca very dangerous person to have in the community\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wickliffe said his pre-sentence report said he had an \u201cabove average risk of sexual offending in the future\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said aggravating factors included unlawful entry into a home at night with five occupants, the victim\u2019s vulnerability, \u201cplanning and premeditation\u201d, the nature of the offending with children\u2019s underwear, and the harm done to the victim and her family.<\/p>\n
Wickliffe noted the report said British police referred to these types of offences as \u201ccreeper burglaries\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s a very good description of what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wickliffe said the victim had already been scared of the dark and had only just gained confidence about being safe at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll her fears came to life when you broke into her house and assaulted her while she was at her most vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said a sentence of three years and six months\u2019 imprisonment was an appropriate starting point.<\/p>\n
Wickliffe allowed a 10% discount for his guilty plea, 5% for a lack of previous convictions, and 5% for his youth contributing to \u201ca lack of judgment to some extent\u201d.<\/p>\n
She convicted and sentenced him to two years, nine months and two weeks\u2019 imprisonment. The parole board would decide on his release conditions.<\/p>\n
Wickliffe said she hoped he would do a sex offenders\u2019 course in prison because \u201cthe community\u2019s not safe until you get that help\u201d.<\/p>\n
Wickliffe said Tatham-Tahere would be registered on the Child Sex Offender Register, a decision met with applause from the public gallery.<\/p>\n
Daughter unable to sleep alone for 13 months <\/p>\n
The teenager\u2019s mother was tearful when she read her victim impact statement to the court.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou, James, had sat in our lounge and sifted through the girls\u2019 dirty laundry until you found what you wanted – their dirty underwear. You then went back into [our daughter\u2019s] room and indecently assaulted her. You are sick,\u201d she said as she faced him in the dock.<\/p>\n
She said Tatham-Tahere had \u201ctargeted\u201d her daughter after a phone search found he had searched Instagram for her first name.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long had you been watching us?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her daughter was unable to sleep alone for 13 months. It was a \u201cmassive step\u201d for her to sleep in her bedroom again, which now had a lock.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe still can\u2019t get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and she calls me if she needs to.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a mother, it\u2019s the most heartbreaking pain to see your child feel unsafe when you are right by her side in her own home.\u201d<\/p>\n
The mother said her daughter was a \u201cwarrior and a hero and this will not define her\u201d.<\/p>\n
She also read her daughter\u2019s victim impact statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI now feel unsafe in my own home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t go on a run, walk, or play outside with my sisters, or mow the lawns without feeling unsafe and the need to look around me all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never want anyone else to go through this and I want him punished as much as possible. I want him to know he should never do this again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sexual harm<\/p>\n
Where to get help:<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk<\/a> confidentially, any time 24\/7:<\/p>\n \u2022 Call 0800 044 334<\/p>\n \u2022 Text 4334<\/p>\n \u2022 Email support@safetotalk.nz<\/p>\n \u2022 For more info or to web chat visitsafetotalk.nz<\/a><\/p>\n Alternatively contact your local police station – click here for a list.<\/a> <\/p>\n If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it\u2019s not your fault.<\/p>\n