Judge accepts victim's plea to name sex attacker

A judge has granted a woman's request that the name of a man who indecently assaulted her when she was a child be published.

In the Christchurch District Court yesterday, Judge Colin Doherty sentenced Peter James John Heveldt, now aged 34, to an 18-month suspended prison term.

"I am satisfied there will be some impact on your family.

"That is one of the crosses they have to bear from you.

"I am sorry for that, but that's the fact of the matter," Judge Doherty said.

"It is in the best interests of the complainant and the public interest that there will be no final order for name suppression."

The woman, now aged 25 and living in Australia, was in court for the sentencing.

Crown prosecutor Karyn South said she had spoken to the victim and found her to be intelligent and perceptive and very much in control of her life.

She had a supportive and committed partner and family.

The victim had particularly asked that Heveldt's name should be published even though it could lead to her identification.

Heveldt had pleaded guilty to two charges involving touching the girl, in the 1980s, first when he was aged 16 and again when he was aged 18 to 20.

Defence counsel Gerald Nation said that when the woman and her family first confronted Heveldt about the incidents in 1993-94, he admitted the offending to his wife and family and voluntarily completed a STOP course for sex offenders.

The lawyer said Heveldt was married and had been a good father to his daughter and stepchildren.

Mr Nation appealed for continued name suppression because of the effect of publication on Heveldt's family.

Ms South said the indecent assault involved a breach of trust, with Heveldt nine years older than the girl.

The effects of the abuse had been insidious.

"The Crown accepts that he has taken steps to address his offending, but a sentence of imprisonment is inevitable to mark society's condemnation of this type of behaviour," she said.

Judge Doherty sentenced Heveldt to 18 months' jail but said because of the unusual circumstances he could justify suspending the sentence.

He also ordered Heveldt to pay $5000 to the victim as reparation for emotional harm.

- NZPA