KEY POINTS:
A Wellington man who admitted using the internet to groom a 14-year-old Taupo girl for sex has been placed under supervision for 12 months and granted permanent name suppression.
In Taupo District Court today, Judge James Weir indicated he accepted the defendant was not a paedophile as such.
"There was no attempt to isolate the girl," he said.
He referred to medical reports, from a psychologist, a psychiatrist and medical history tabled by counsel, which showed the defendant has Noonan Syndrome.
Noonan Syndrome is a relatively common congenital genetic condition which affects both males and females.
The principal features include congenital heart malformation, short stature, learning problems, indentation of the chest, impaired blood clotting, and a characteristic configuration of facial features.
The judge said the reports showed the defendant was not a predator or engaged in the characteristic "grooming" behaviour.
There were some issues though that needed addressing.
The court was told the complainant's parents had been alerted to the situation by a sibling.
Although police said at an earlier hearing this week that initial contact had been made through an internet chat room in December, the two had begun by exchanging text messages.
They eventually included messages where the defendant asked to meet the girl to engage in sexual intercourse.
He was told she was only aged 14 years and was a virgin.
On January 13 he travelled from Wellington with his parents and tried to make firm arrangements to meet the girl.
Around 8pm on January 14 he sent her a message saying he had bought some condoms and arrangements were made to meet at the Taupo Boat Harbour.
When police arrived at the meeting place he was taken into custody.
During a search three condoms were found hidden in his shoes.
However, in court today defence counsel Steve Clarkson said after being alerted on January 12 to what had happened, the girl's mother had taken over control and the communications.
Her concern, he said, was that the person could be older than indicated.
Mr Clarkson said although the case had some elements of the charge, there was not the activity which would raise the bar.
He asked for permanent name suppression saying any benefits of a supervisory sentence could otherwise unravel.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Robinson opposed name suppression saying that it was a question of public safety and the contact had been initiated by the defendant on an internet chat room.
"Had the victim's mother not acted, there might not have been any intervention," he said.
However, Judge Weir questioned how lifting suppression could protect children from contact on the internet.
- NZPA
