'Completely insincere': Victim rejects man's remorse claims after he 'egregiously' violated her

This article discusses sexual violation and may be upsetting.

Dean Sigley’s years of hidden offending – recording, collecting, violating – are catching up with him and his sentence continues to rise.

What began as a 12‑year jail term has been extended as new charges lay bare the scale of his predatory behaviour, including raping a woman as she slept, recovering from surgery.

The 54-year-old from Kawakawa appeared for sentencing for a third time at the Whangārei District Court charged with male rapes female and making an intimate visual recording.

He was first jailed for 12 years in 2024, but a High Court appeal reduced the term to 11 years and two months.

His offending came to light when a former girlfriend became suspicious that he was unfaithful and went through his phone.

She found 30,000 explicit images and recordings of young children dating back to 2004.

Seven victims were identified.

One was the subject of further charges, for which a jury found him guilty of rape.

Sigley pleaded guilty to the remaining intimate visual recording charge.

The woman in that case gave evidence that after a medical procedure requiring bed rest, Sigley began hassling her for sex.

After telling him she did not want to, she woke to him on top of her and when she told him to stop, he did not.

On another occasion, Sigley recorded himself having sex with the woman without her knowledge.

At his sentencing for the latest charges, she read her victim statement and said his actions continued to follow her.

Dean Sigley at his sentencing in 2024. Photo / NZME

“But every feeling I’ve felt and decision I’ve made during this harrowing ordeal has been with a clear head,” she said.

“Dean has affected many, many more people than he will ever acknowledge or understand here today.”

The woman said she would find any claims of remorse “completely insincere and extremely incomprehensible”.

“A remorseful person does not physically violate and abuse a person so egregiously, plead not guilty forcing a trial, and then dispute the truth from the victim at their most vulnerable when the offender provided the evidence themselves.”

Judge John McDonald said the new sentence would reflect what would have been imposed had the fresh charges been part of the original case.

Previous victims welcomed Dean Sigley into their homes and he was referred to as "uncle" by many.

Crown lawyer Danica Soich submitted 23 months be added to his sentence.

“The victim was extremely vulnerable at the time of the rape being asleep, sir. She had no capacity whatsoever to resist the defendant,” Soich said.

Sigley’s lawyer Jarred Scott acknowledged that had the rape been in the original sentence, it would have been the lead charge.

“So we can do the maths, but really at the end of the day, it’s what is a sentence that’s justified based on the circumstances?”

A recent pre-sentence report was provided to the court, which Judge McDonald said “pulled no punches”.

“The report writer echoes the previous report’s advice that you have deviant sexual interests and a general lack of concern for others,” Judge McDonald said.

“You are waitlisted at the prison for treatment in a high-intensity sexual offending programme.”

The judge acknowledged the victim was entitled to feel safe in her own home, in her own bed.

“She was asleep and in an unguarded position in bed. She was unable to be given the opportunity to consent, to resist or defend herself,” he said.

“She clearly sets out the significant harm that’s caused in her victim impact statement. It’s not only to her physical, but also her mental wellbeing and the general enjoyment and potentiality of her life.”

Judge McDonald said he was satisfied he would have added 18 months, had the rape been included in the original sentencing.

Sigley’s sentence is now 12 years and eight months.

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 support@safetotalk.nz
• 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.

Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.