NZ banker's UK jail term cut

A New Zealand-born investment consultant who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman has had his sentence reduced by an English Court of Appeal.

Justin von Tunzelman, 38, was jailed for 30 months in September but claimed this was "manifestly excessive".

Two judges ruled a community order would have been the "appropriate" punishment and made a six-month supervised community order, the BBC reported.

Von Tunzelman groped a "comatose" colleague after a cocktail party.

Southwark Crown Court heard during his week-long trial in July that his victim had drunk several cocktails and shots with workmates at the party in July 2008.

The court was told von Tunzelman, an investment banker, found the 29-year-old woman passed out in an office.

A witness was "shocked" to enter the room later in the evening in July last year to find von Tunzelman and the woman naked.

Von Tunzelman claimed he had suffered drink-induced amnesia, but was found guilty of the sexual assault on the woman by a majority of 10-2.

He was cleared of a second count of sexual assault of fondling the woman in the pub.

The woman could not recall the assault as she was unconscious, the court was told.

Von Tunzelman claimed he had suffered a memory blackout caused by consuming too much lager.

In sentencing Von Tunzelman, Judge Stephen Robbins called his behaviour "appalling conduct", the London Evening Standard reported.

"Alcohol has been the cause of your downfall. You denied the offence and the victim had to give evidence in this court...

"You knew perfectly well this woman was too drunk to take care of herself and you exploited that situation."

Von Tunzelman was educated at Auckland Grammar school and Otago University.

He had prior convictions in New Zealand for trespass, assault and offensive behaviour after waving his genitals at a female security guard at Te Papa on New Year's Eve 1999, and biting and scratching a guard who tried to escort him away, the Herald on Sunday reported earlier this year.

- NZPA