Canterbury gay man Paul Cecil Davenport has been sentenced to eight years' jail with a 4 year non-parole period for the drugging and rape of a man. He was appearing for sentence in the Christchurch District Court on a charge of sexual violation of a man aged 36, and a charge of willfully stupefying the victim without lawful justification or excuse. In spite of pleading guilty just before his trial was due to start, Davenport continues to deny both offences. The victim stated in his victim impact report that he felt as though Davenport had stolen his soul.