Photo: Rob KiddA woman who was raped by a stranger who broke into her Dunedin flat says she now lives in "constant fear". Justice Melanie Harland imposed a term of seven years three months before the defendant could apply for parole. The court heard Wicks-Cairns had been jailed in 2013 for the sexual abuse of two young girls and the judge said his crimes were escalating in seriousness. The victim of his latest attack was left suffering "anxiety that appears out of nowhere, leaving me shaking or unable to breathe". He was originally jailed for 15 years but that was overturned by the Court of Appeal in favour of preventive detention.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 10, 2026 18:29 UTC