Man 'strung up' girl after she refused bath

A South Canterbury man has been convicted of ill treating a child after he "strung up" the 11-year-old girl when she refused to have a bath.

Christopher William Hunt, 48, of Waimate in South Canterbury, was found guilty of ill-treating the child in the Timaru District Court.

The court was told that in January the victim, who was not Hunt's child, had been spreading pig manure over paddocks throughout the day so Hunt told her to have a bath, the Timaru Herald reported.

After she refused, Hunt grabbed her by the arm, tied a rope around her hands and pulled her arms up above her head until she was suspended above the decking for at least a minute.

After the incident another child told the girl's mother what had happened.

The mother immediately collected the children and contacted police.

Hunt said they "were just playing around".

But Judge Michael Crosbie said it was not a case of disciplining a child.

He said the offence which involved a child being "strung up and suspended" was one of cruelty.

Hunt was convicted and remanded in custody to August 4 for a probation report and sentence.

- NZPA