14-year-old boy sexually assaulted by man in his 30s met on online dating website in New Zealand in 2008, leading to 2023 conviction and seven-year prison sentence
Summary
A 14-year-old boy was sexually assaulted in 2008 by a man in his 30s whom he met on an online dating website in New Zealand. The man, who later paid the teen $1,000 to avoid police involvement, was convicted in 2023 of unlawful sexual connection and sexual conduct with a young person related to the assault. The victim, now an adult, stated in court that the man broke all boundaries and left him feeling blamed and without trust in relationships. The man was sentenced to seven years and two months in prison and added to the child sex offender register. The case was reopened in 2021 after the victim came forward again, and the man lost his name suppression in court in 2024 after it was denied following opposition from the Crown. The man has indicated he will appeal his conviction.
Incident Details
Harms involving the exploitation, abuse, or endangerment of minors, including CSAM and grooming.
Online contact by adults seeking to build trust with minors for exploitation.
Sources
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