'Sinister' move on girls earns detention

Neil Douglas Turvey, 24, previously pleaded guilty in Masterton District Court to two counts each of indecent assault and supplying cannabis and one charge of supplying alcohol to a minor.

A Masterton man who indecently assaulted two 14-year-old girls, after buying them alcohol and supplying them with cannabis, has been sentenced to five months' community detention.

Neil Douglas Turvey, 24, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault, two charges of supplying cannabis and one charge of supplying alcohol to a minor, when he appeared in Masterton District Court on Tuesday for sentencing.

Judge Ian Mill said Turvey had placed his hand on one girl's thigh and had tried to kiss the other girl.

"She was about 14 at this time. You befriended her mother in order to do what you wanted to do, which was to have a relationship with this girl."

Turvey had got into the habit of buying alcohol for the girls, and offered to supply them with cannabis, Judge Mill said.

"They said they felt pressured to kiss you and that you were very clingy and flirted with them, and they didn't feel comfortable with that." It was fortunate things did not go any further, he said.

"There's a sinister undertone to what you did, but in the end your offending cannot be characterised as serious offending of this type."

Turvey had told the police he did not intend to have sex with the girls.

"You don't recognise the harm that you've done and you continue to deny that you intended to go any further with these girls and that you didn't intend to have sex with them," said Judge Mill.

Turvey's substance abuse was an "aggravating" factor.

"You need help, in my view, to prevent this sort of thing happening again."

Turvey's lawyer, Frank Minehan, said the defendant worked part-time at a butchery and a community sentence would be suitable.

Judge Mill sentenced Turvey to five months' community detention with a curfew, one year of intensive supervision, 150 hours of community work and fined him $500 plus $130 for court costs.