Gymnastics coach imprisoned for sex offences on young girls

Wednesday, 17 April 2024

A gymnastics coach was “calculated” in his abuse of young girls and a “master manipulator”, a parent has said at his sentencing.

Blenheim man Gregory David Pask, 61, who had earlier admitted 61 charges involving several girls aged under 12, appeared for sentencing at Blenheim District Court on Wednesday.

The courtroom’s public gallery was packed with the families and friends of Pask’s victims, and parents and grandparents were able to read out victim impact statements about how his offending had affected them.

Pask was “calculated” in the way he gained the trust of families, and a “master manipulator”, one parent said.

Another mother said he “fooled everyone with his smile and charm”.

A tearful grandmother addressed Pask and told him he “had no right to do this to an innocent child”.

“Youre a sick, sick man … you’ve broken the hearts of not just the victims but their entire families.”

Pask looked on emotionless as the victim impact statements were read out, looking into the eyes of those reading them.

Pask was named a Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero medallist in 2016 for his work as a volunteer coach of the girls’ recreational grades at the Blenheim Gymnastics Club.

Over two decades, he was a long-serving member of the club committee, helped with many fundraising activities and open days, and acted as equipment co-ordinator.

Pask had contact with about 180 children a week, most of them girls aged between 7 and 11.

As a trusted member of the gymnastics community, he would take the young gymnasts out of Blenheim on overnight trips for competitions without their parents.

Pask would also babysit some of his victims, and have them stay over at his house.

He admitted 60 charges of sexual offences against young girls, some as young as 5, and possession of objectionable materials which included around 9000 images of child exploitation, of which more than 1000 were classed as category A - the most serious.

Lawyer Marcus Zintl told the court Pask “was at a loss” about his offending and that he was “disgusted with himself”.

Zintl sought discounts to Pask’s sentence for his early guilty plea, remorse, willingness to attend restorative justice, and previous good character.

However, Judge Garry Barkle refused to give Pask any discounts other than for his guilty pleas, saying Pask’s offending had taken place over a number of years and that the prolonged nature of his offending “impacts on the previous good character defence”.

Judge Barkle said Pask’s offending was premeditated and his victims were particularly vulnerable because of their age.

There was also a high level of breach of trust involved, the judge said, and he had caused “significant” harm to his victims including ongoing psychological problems.

The judge also refuted claims of Pask’s remorse, noting he had refused to help police identify a number of “unknown” victims seen in photographs and videos Pask took of his offending.

Judge Barkle on Wednesday sentenced Pask to 15 years and nine months’ imprisonment.

He must serve at least 10 years before being considered for release.