A Taranaki man will have to serve at least two years behind bars, after being sentenced on a raft of child sex charges. (File Photo)

A man has been jailed for five years for a series of sexual assaults on young children.

Since 2000, Taranaki man Shannon Justin Dravitski has abused four girls and two boys by indecently touching parts of their bodies.

The summary of facts said the first female victim, a 5-year-old, had visited Dravitski's Eltham home in May 2017, where she stayed overnight.

About 2am, he went into the room where the girl was sleeping, removed her clothing and touched her. During the assault she attempted to turn away from him but Dravitski rolled her back onto the bed.

"After approximately 5 to 15 minutes the defendant stopped, pulled the victim's pants back up and replaced the covers before kissing her on the forehead saying "good girl"," the summary of facts said.

Once this incident came to light, historical allegations made by three other children were also investigated. It was revealed in the New Plymouth District Court on Monday that Dravitski was interviewed by police in 2010 regarding sex abuse allegations, but no charges had been laid.

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The historical abuse involves a December 2009 complaint from a seven-year-old girl, who was indecently assaulted by Dravitski.

In January 2011, Dravitski indecently touched a three-year-old girl, after taking off her clothing. Another girl, 4, was molested by Dravitski in 2015.

During the course of the police investigation, two boys came forward with more complaints against Dravitski.

Between October 2003 and February 2004, a 12-year-old boy, was made to masturbate the defendant before he was then indecently assaulted. The assault lasted for about an hour, the summary of facts revealed.

Similar incidents occurred up to three more times, including after Dravitski plied the young boy with beer.

Dravitski's sixth victim was abused between September 2000 and September 2002, when he was six or seven years of age. The abuse involved Dravitski rubbing the boy's buttocks while he lay on a couch.

When interviewed by police, the defendant told them he had "trouble controlling his sexual urges".

The summary of facts said Dravitski added that "there are plenty of places for victims to get help but a lack of places for offenders to get treatment."

Dravitski previously pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual conduct with a child under the age of 12, along with three charges of indecent assault of a boy.

Prosecutor Jacob Bourke asked for a minimum period of imprisonment to be imposed on Dravitski, something he argued was often "routine" in child sex offending cases.

Lawyer Turitea Bolstad argued Dravitski's registration as a child sex offender provided adequate oversight in terms of monitoring, so a minimum period of jail time was not required.

She said the probation report prepared for the 32-year-old's sentencing reflected the remorse he felt about what he had done.

"He makes no excuses for his offending," Bolstad said.

Judge Chris Sygrove said although Dravitski was a first offender, the five-year jail term reflected "the severity" of the crimes and the psychological and physical trauma suffered by the victims.

​The judge imposed a minimum period of imprisonment, which means Dravitski will have to serve two years behind bars before he is considered for release. A first strike warning was also issued.

As the jail term imposed by the court is longer than two years, Dravitski's name will automatically be added to the child sex offender's register.

Dravitski previously had interim name suppression but no application was made for a permanent order.