Gym coach guilty plea to raft of sexual offending charges

A Marlborough man has today pled guilty to 29 charges of sexual offending against several girls over a nine year period.

Gregory Pask, 61, entered a guilty plea today in Blenheim District Court.

And police believe there may be further victims who they are encouraging to come forward.

Marlborough CIB Detective Sergeant Ash Clarke says police acknowledge the victims in this case and the ordeal they have been through.

"We understand it can be hard to come forward and report incidents of this nature, but we would like to reassure you Police take these matters seriously and have a number of officers and detectives dedicated to these cases, we will ensure you have a safe space to report offending in confidence," a police spokesperson says.

Pask is a well-known figure in the Blenheim community, a gym coach with Blenheim Gymnastics Club, and was in continual contact with children and young people through his voluntary role.

In 2016 he was a recipient of the Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year awards.

He is due to appear for a further hearing on Tuesday March 5, and again for sentencing on Wednesday April 17.

This afternoon, police recognised the guilty plea, saying how no admission of guilt would take back what had happened to his victims.

Pask pleaded guilty to 29 charges of sexual offending against several girls, and producing objectionable material in Blenheim between 2014 and September 2023.

If you were a victim to this offending you can contact Police on 105 or come into your local Police station and reference file number: 230903/8087