The family of a little girl sexually assaulted by a former neighbour is now planning on moving on with their lives after the offender was sentenced today.

Rex Hewlett, 56, was sentenced to six years and six months in jail when he appeared before Judge Thomas Ingram in Tauranga District Court today.

Rex Hewlett was sentenced in Tauranga District Court today.

Hewlett was found guilty at a trial in June after being charged with two counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection in relation to incidents between February and April 2013.

He was arrested following a police investigation after the family of a seven-year-old girl laid a complaint to police in July 2013.

The complaint was laid after Hewlett's offending came to light.

Read more here.

In court today, a victim impact statement was read out on behalf of the girl's father.

He said while he suffered no physical trauma as a result of the offending, his daughter suffered both physical and emotional trauma.

'He is an adult and the offending clearly caused my daughter pain and trauma.

'I knew we had to move away from him when I was told what happened.”

It took the family three months to relocate to another house.

'I was devastated for my daughter and now my partner and I are always careful about where the children are and who they are with.

'My relationship with my partner suffered and I would get angry and take it out on my partner and inanimate objects.”

The victim's father also told the court in his statement about the shame, blame and anger he felt when he found out what had happened to his daughter.

'Her innocence has been taken by this offending and the ripples continue to spread.”

After hearing from both Crown prosecutor Heidi Wrigley and defence counsel Paul Mabey, QC, Judge Thomas Ingram went on to say that Hewlett was a first time offender and had lead a blameless life up until this offending.

'You are highly thought of in the community, with even some members of the community even giving evidence at your trial. 'This offending is likely to have a long-term impact on the child and the family. The victim impact statement makes it crystal clear how difficult a time it has been for the family.”

Judge Ingram said there had been a degree of planning and pre-meditation before the offending and there was a serious breach of trust and violation.