WARNING: This article discusses sexual abuse and may be upsetting to some readers. 

A man believed to have suffered around 1000 instances of sexual abuse as a young boy was scared into silence by his abuser’s threats. 

But 30 years on, after decades of pain, the man has faced his abuser and reclaimed his voice and his power. 

“I want my voice to be heard,” he said last week at the sentencing of Randall Kevin Wilson, a former tattooist from Hikurangi. 

Wilson, 49, was sent to prison when he appeared in the Whangārei District Court for sentencing on charges of sexual violation against two boys. 

He has previously served a prison term for causing the death of a motorist in 2019, after he drove off without paying for $108 of petrol and crashed into her vehicle. 

The historical sexual offending dates back to three decades ago and relates to two boys who were under the age of 10 at the time, with one being just 3 years old. 

Seventeen of the 19 representative charges related to one victim. 

That victim read his impact statement to the court, detailing a life of turmoil which led him to the only place he felt he belonged – the streets, gangs and eventually prison. 

“I was controlled, used and broken down in every way a person could be,” he said. 

“From as early as I can remember, I have lived my life in fear. 

“This abuse didn’t just hurt me physically. It affected every part of my life.” 

The man said he developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), antisocial personality disorder and had days where he was “just surviving, not living”. 

Randall Wilson was a tattooist from Hikurangi in Whangārei. 

But at Wilson’s sentencing, he reclaimed his power. 

“I want my voice to be heard, I want my story to mean something,” he said. 

The man said he had been working hard over the past two years to heal and address the trauma. 

“Some days I feel strong, other days I feel like falling apart but I keep trying because I want to live. I want to find out who I am without the pain. 

“It’s taken so much from me. I survived something that should have killed me.” 

As he finished his statement, he had parting words for Wilson. 

“The shame is his [Wilson’s] alone to carry and today, I’m giving it back to him.” 

The other victim was not present at the sentencing. 

Crown lawyer Pablo Hamber said the scale of Wilson’s offending was significant because of the length of time it occurred and the degree of bodily invasion. 

“This was repetitive and prolonged offending over a number of years,” Hamber submitted. 

“He was someone both the victims should have been able to trust. 

“They were very young with no possible way of resisting in any meaningful way.” 

Hamber noted Wilson had submitted a letter of remorse but pointed out comments he made to a pre-sentence report writer. 

“He declined to go over the summary of facts again, stating that he agreed with the summary of facts but that, this is quoted as his words, ‘some of it may be blown out of proportion’,” Hamber said. 

“This is extremely serious offending. I don’t think it could be blown out of proportion.” 

Wilson’s lawyer, Miriam Jenkins, submitted that the court needed to take into account Wilson’s age at the time of offending and his alcohol addiction, which began when he was 12 years old. 

“Mr Wilson was very young himself at the time and the offending ceased at the age of 19. That context is vital in ascertaining what his culpability is.” 

Jenkins said Wilson’s remorse was reflected in his early guilty plea and that he wanted to apologise to both victims face-to-face. 

“He appreciates they may never want to hear that from him,” Jenkins said. 

“He does apologise sincerely for what has happened and hopes they can move on with their lives and heal from this.” 

Regarding the comments made in the pre-sentence report, Jenkins stated that Wilson believed them and agreed they would not fabricate this information. 

Judge John McDonald said that although Wilson was a youth at the time of offending, he must be treated at sentencing as an adult. 

“You knew what you were doing was wrong; you knew every time you did it,” the judge said. 

“Why else would you tell him not to say anything? Why else would you make serious threats? On one occasion, a threat to burn the house down.” 

Judge McDonald said the offending against the primary victim occurred hundreds of times, up to three times a week. 

“Three times a week for five years. I was trying to work it out. I get to 1000 and probably more,” he said. 

The judge said Wilson controlled the boys and took every opportunity he could to violate them. 

“It’s no wonder those boys, now men, that their lives have been destroyed – solely by you.” 

Wilson was sentenced to seven years and seven months’ imprisonment. 

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 [email protected]
• 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.