October 16, 2008

Man admits indecency in the Spencer Park sandhills

A New Brighton man with one child and a partner expecting another baby has admitted having sex with a man in the sand dunes at Spencer Park Beach.

The man?s partner and child were with him when he appeared in the Christchurch District Court today.

Judge Philip Moran granted final suppression of his name after releasing the 45-year-old on supervision for nine months on the charge of doing an indecent act in a public place.

He ordered the man to do programmes and counselling as directed to address personal issues relating to his offending.

He also told the man: ?It seems to me that your rehabilitation is more important than your punishment, and that is compromised if your name is to be published. It will also impact upon your relationship with your wife.?

Police prosecutor Trudi Aickin said the man had gone to Spencer Park Beach at 12.15pm on September 15 and lay beside another man who was sunbathing naked about 100m south of the surf club.

The man took off his clothing and the pair were seen performing oral sex by a passerby who was walking along an accessway to the beach.

The passerby ?expressed his displeasure? and then gave chase and caught the man who was charged, said Miss Aickin. The other man got away and the police could not find him.

Defence counsel Gilly Ferguson said the man, a kitchen hand, had a young partner and a young child, and his partner was expecting another child next year. She said he had already begun counselling.

She asked for the name suppression order because of the impact the offending was having on his relationship with his partner.