Two survivors of serial rapist Robert Roper say a new judgement in favour of their attacker is making them "physically sick".
It follows a failed legal challenge from another victim who's now being forced to pay Roper's legal costs - and it's prompted calls for a law change.
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Every time they see his face or hear his name in public, it's a kick in the guts for Roper's victims.
Re-victimised is how survivors Tracey Thompson and Cherie Ham feel on Tuesday, after learning fellow victim Mariya Taylor is being ordered to pay $28,000 to Roper after losing a civil proceeding against him.
"Every single time he's in the news, every time we found out he's done something else, every time we're re-victimised," says Ms Thompson.
"I was physically sick last night - I was so angry and so upset," Ms Ham agrees.
Former Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Sergeant Robert Roper is currently serving a lengthy prison term for a string of sexual assaults.
The Auckland High Court found former RNZAF servicewoman Mariya Taylor was likely sexually assaulted by Sgt Roper in the 1980s.
She was locked in a cage, groped, ogled, and prodded with an iron bar.
But the court also ruled that too much time has passed for Ms Taylor to make a compensation bid against Roper for mental harm, or his employer the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
Ms Taylor's lawyers say that shouldn't have been an issue because they had psychological advice that she had a mental disability, and the time keeps running until the complainant is able to overcome that disability.
But that argument failed because the judge didn't accept that Ms Taylor had a disability preventing her from bringing her claim within time.
In New Zealand, someone who loses a civil case has to pay the victor's court costs. Now Ms Taylor has to pay almost $28,000 in court costs for Roper, who is currently serving a 13-year prison sentence, having been found guilty of 20 counts of sexual offending in 2015.
"It's an extremely bad precedent, and I think the Government should consider policy reform in the High Court rules," her lawyer Geraldine Whiteford says.
Roper's other victims are also calling for a law change so others don't face the same fate. Ms Thompson and Ms Ham say they understand the judge has to follow guidelines.
"What we don't understand is that a rapist has been rewarded, okay, so she has rewarded him for his bad behaviour."
Newshub contacted Justice Minister Andrew Little, but he was unavailable due to commitments overseas.
Ms Taylor's lawyers say the case has had a massive effect on her as she tries to move on. She does have some hope though, with the case set to go to the Court of Appeal later this year.
Newshub.
