Jail for sex act with teen runaway
A 32-year-old homeless man has been jailed for over two years for a sex act with a 14-year-old runaway.
Shannon James Sullivan’s pre-sentence report for his Christchurch District Court sentencing said he blamed the girl for the incident, and was a high risk for re-offending and harm in the future.
Defence counsel Paul Johnson said Sullivan had already been read the first strike warning for sexual offenders at his last appearance in court.
He said Sullivan was at university doing a computer science course and had a suitable home detention address.
Crown prosecutor Kathy Basire said the girl’s victim impact report was grim reading. She was a runaway and was taking drugs, and the offending had had a significant impact on her.
Judge Paul Kellar said he was sentencing Sullivan on a charge of sexual connection with a young person.
On October 13 2014 Sullivan had met up with the victim in Latimer Square where free food was being given to the homeless.
They roamed the streets, before going into an abandoned building on High Street.
Sullivan kissed and cuddled the girl and then penetrated her with his finger on her.
He said the girl was vulnerable, sleeping rough, and there was a big age difference between them.
The victim now felt worthless, and had lost confidence, he said.
Sullivan had 53 prior convictions for fraud, violence, dishonesty, drugs, and driving matters, and was unlikely to comply with a community-based sentence, he said.
Judge Kellar sentenced Sullivan to prison for two years one month, and said he would not have granted a home detention sentence even if it was a sentence two years or under.
Category: Focus
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