Newshub can reveal police have filed charges against three men seven years after the Roast Busters alleged group sex ring was exposed in a 3 News investigation.
The west Auckland-based Roast Busters were accused of plying girls with alcohol between 2011 and 2013 and sexually assaulting them. Some were as young as 13.
Waitemata Police have confirmed a young woman made a formal complaint earlier this year "in relation to alleged sexual offending involving three males in 2013".
All three men will face charges of sexual connection with a person aged 12-16.
A 24-year-old male has been summonsed to appear at Waitakere District Court on December 23.
Another 24-year-old has been located and arrested in Whitianga and he will be bailed to appear in the Waitakere District Court on the same day.
Police say a warrant to arrest will be sought for a third man, who currently resides overseas "if he returns to New Zealand".
Kiwis were shocked when in 2013, Newshub (then 3 News) revealed the group of west Auckland high-schoolers calling themselves the 'Roast Busters', allegedly engaged in group sex with intoxicated underage girls and then boasted about it on social media.
One alleged victim at the time told Newshub: "I just kept blacking out because I had drunk so much... I had sex with three guys at one time and they wouldn't stop."
News of the arrests has come as welcome news to three alleged victims Newshub has spoken to. Some of the young women say they were impacted so badly at the time, they considered suicide.
One, who was 13 when she says she was sexually assaulted, says: "I'm shocked, after all these years, it's such a relief.
"What happened changed my life, it affected me at school, my personal life, my friends, how people saw me."
Another says: "I'm watching the news. I'm in tears."
The mother of another alleged victim tells Newshub: "I'm so happy, I've been praying for this day for 10 years. It still haunts me, it's affected our whole family."
Police conducted a year-long investigation into the Roast Busters after the story broke; 110 young women were canvassed.
Seven female victims and five suspects were identified as part of Operation Clover, but no charges were ever laid.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority found a number of shortcomings in the investigation. It found police "did not adequately follow up positive lines of inquiry" and they "did not accurately record information" or join the dots between historic complaints about the accused men.
Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock said in 2014 police would not rule out future charges if they were satisfied there was a reasonable prospect of a conviction.
Where to find help and support
- HELP AUCKLAND - 09 623 1700
- Safe to talk - 0800 044 334
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
