Peter Hugh Ensor sentenced for historic sexual offenses in Christchurch

Peter Hugh Ensor has been sentenced in the Christchurch District Court following a jury trial that found him guilty of five counts of rape, one count of unlawful sexual connection, and two counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16. The court heard that the abuse began when the victim was 13 years old.

During the sentencing, the victim provided an impact statement describing decades of psychological struggle, including hyper-vigilance and difficulty establishing trust. Judge Tom Gilbert noted that the offending involved premeditation, grooming, and violence, highlighting that Ensor was more than 10 years older than the victim at the start of the abuse.

Ensor denied the charges and indicated plans to appeal the sentence. While his defense counsel argued the crimes were out of character, the judge stated that the offending occurred regularly over a significant period.