Convicted rapist sexually abused 13-year-old girl while fighting to keep his name secret
Monday, 3 March 2025
Luca Fairgray sexually assaulted six girls, two of whom he raped, when he was a teenager, and was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention in 2022.
He wanted permanent name suppression and, at the age of 20, while waiting for the Supreme Court to hear his case, Fairgray had an illegal sexual relationship with a 13-year-old.
Fairgray’s full criminal record can finally be revealed after the Supreme Court ruled it could be published on Monday afternoon.
A convicted rapist sexually abused a 13-year-old girl while fighting to keep his name suppressed, it can be revealed.
Luca Benedict Kercher Fairgray, then 20, began an illegal relationship with the teen two months after completing a “lucky break” home detention sentence for sexually assaulting six girls, two of whom he raped.
On February 3 at the Auckland District Court, Fairgray was found guilty of three charges of sexual connection with the girl. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of supplying cannabis to her.
The jurors in that case were not told of the crimes he’d committed against the six teenage girls when he was aged between 14 and 17, and admitted in 2021.
And the wider public were also in the dark, because he’d repeatedly appealed a decision refusing him permanent name suppression all the way to New Zealand’s highest court.
Fairgray’s name suppression was due to lapse on March 31, but following an application from Stuff to bring the date forward, the Supreme Court ruled the now 22 year-old’s full criminal record could be reported on Monday afternoon.
Tracey Edmonds’ daughter Mia was one of the six girls Fairgray admitted attacking in 2021.
“I hope the community is outraged that, via endless Court appeals, Luca Fairgray denied the public the right to know he is a convicted … rapist,” Edmonds said.
She said three of the six survivors, including her daughter, waived their automatic right to name suppression, in the hope it would protect other young women.
“In contrast, despite claiming remorse at sentencing, Luca remained a coward and refused to face natural justice.”
She and the young women were relieved the “veil of secrecy” had lifted and now women could plug Fairgray’s name into the internet to learn what he had done.
“This is the moment we have been waiting for. All the wahine toa Luca Fairgray hurt and tried to suppress are free - watch them rise up and thrive. Their job is now done.”
Fairgray met most of the six teenage girls at his high school, which cannot be named for legal reasons.
He targeted some of them at parties, when they had been drinking. He sexually abused some by isolating them in a bedroom at a party.
Others were sexually assaulted in front of friends and the abuse only stopped when others intervened.
When Fairgray was sentenced for the offending in April 2022, Judge Claire Ryan said that despite the feminist movement, #MeToo and education around consent, she was concerned at the sexual assault cases still coming before the courts.
“As a community we have to tell our young men: Women are not objects, they are not pieces of meat, they are not things to be fought over,” Judge Ryan said.
“This has got to change, this has to stop. All of us, young and old people, have to be in the vanguard for change.”
Judge Ryan started with a prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years before applying discounts for Fairgray’s youth, mental health and remorse. She got down to two years in prison, which allowed her to impose a sentence of 12 months’ home detention and 12 months’ special release conditions.
She declined to grant Fairgray permanent name suppression.
“You have been given a lucky break here. The Crown asked me to imprison you,” Judge Ryan told him.
“I have not imprisoned you because I do not want to see you back here as an older offender, much more skilled in the ways of committing sexual violence.”
Judge Ryan’s hopes were dashed within two months of Fairgray completing his home detention and while still subject to the release conditions she’d imposed.
Despite three of his survivors taking the rare step of lifting their automatic name suppression, Fairgray fought to keep his identity secret.
In the two years it took for him to have his appeals heard in the High Court and Court of Appeal, he served his home detention sentence, met the 13 year-old girl online, got her pregnant and arranged for her to have an abortion.
The illegal relationship happened all while his name could not be published. The girl could have had no idea of his previous convictions.
The Supreme Court found against Fairgray in April 2024, noting there was a public interest in his name being known. It was also a factor in holding him to account.
“That there is a public interest in knowing of [his] character is supported by the views of the victims. The offending has plainly affected their day-to-day lives and their recovery in a number of respects,” the court said.
The survivors of his first lot of offending told the court there might be other women who would come forward once Fairgray was named.
“The victims are also concerned about the potential there will be other complainants in the future, absent any ability to warn young women about [his] previous offending.”
By then, Fairgray had been charged over his illegal sexual relationship with the 13-year-old.
He stood trial over the offending in the Auckland District Court in January.
The jurors heard Fairgray was 20 when he met the 13-year-old online. The following night he visited her at home while her mother was out.
The pair watched a movie and smoked the cannabis he had bought over before having sex.
The girl told the court the relationship continued for a further three months.
About a month into the relationship, the girl believed she was pregnant. Fairgray bought her a test and drove her to a petrol station where she used the bathroom. The test came back positive.
Fairgray booked the girl into an abortion clinic, telling staff over the phone his name was “Luke”, he was 15 years-old and went to the same school as the girl. All were lies.
He also left the 13-year-old to go to the abortion clinic with a close family member.
The relationship only came to light in August 2024 when the girl ran away from home and the police became involved in her search.
When two officers knocked on the door of the Fairgray family home, Fairgray’s father Kenneth Fairgray answered the door. While his father spoke to the officers, Fairgray jumped out of his window and hid under the house.
Fairgray told the jurors that the girl had initially told him she was 16. The verdicts suggest the jury rejected his version of events.
Judge Thomas remanded him in prison until his scheduled sentencing on March 31.
Fairgray’s lawyer Susan Gray asked Judge Evangelos Thomas to order a pre-sentence report that includes an assessment for home detention.
Judge Thomas agreed but also had a warning.
“I have to, out of fairness to both of you, should expect that is an unlikely result. I still have to hear from counsel but I don’t want you to have any misapprehension of that.”
Sexual violence: where to get help
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00, click link for local helplines.
Victim Support 0800 842 846.
Safetalk text 4334, phone 0800 044 334 webchat safetotalk.nz or email support@safetotalk.nz.
The Harbour Online support and information for people affected by sexual abuse.
Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843
Male Survivors Aotearoa Helplines across NZ, click to find out more (males only).
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
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