Foster father admits indecent act

File photo / Greg Bowker

A foster father who fondled a 14-year-old sleeping girl after drinking has escaped a prison sentence.

Graham Pihema pleaded guilty just before trial to doing an indecent act on a young person and was sentenced in New Plymouth District Court yesterday to 350 hours' community work and nine months' supervision, The Taranaki Daily News reported.

Judge Gordon Whiting said it was no excuse that Pihema had been drinking the night of the offending and could not remember it.

"Disgusting behaviour on young children is not appropriate." It was only the support of his former partner that had saved him from jail.

The woman told the court that he was a good husband and provider and had successfully raised his own daughter and three children through government agencies.

- NZPA