Man admitted he might attack girls

By David Clarkson at Christchurch Men's Prison

A man caught by police at 8.09am on Friday in Little Hagley Park admitted he had been fantasizing about having sex with girls.

The arrest of Peter James Ashwell, 31, on two charges may have brought an end to a spate of indecent exposures in the Papanui-Burnside-Fendalton area.

Ashwell pleaded guilty to two charges at a Christchurch District Court session inside Christchurch Men’s Prison today, and the police say more charges may follow.

They said Ashwell was “wandering in the direction” of Christchurch Girls’ High School when he was caught, and told police about his fantasies about sex with girls.

Police prosecutor Stewart Sluis told the prison court sitting: “He told police he would not rape them but would hold them down and if they cried, that would be all right.”

Ashwell refused all legal help and advice for his appearance before Judge Stephen Erber today and pleaded guilty to charges of doing an indecent act in Matai Street, Fendalton, and being found preparing to commit a crime in Little Hagley Park.

Mr Sluis said that between March 30 and April 14 there had been 14 reports of suspicious behaviour with a man exposing himself in the area.

At 11.30am on April 4, he rode his bicycle past a girl student in Matai Street while his testicles were exposed and he was shaking his penis.

The unemployed man wanted the case to be dealt with immediately at his appearance today, but Judge Erber noted that he had an extensive list of previous convictions including indecent assault in 2009.

He remanded Ashwell in custody to May 10 for sentence and ordered a pre-sentence report and a victim impact report. He suggested Ashwell get legal advice before then because a prison term was “virtually certain”.