Man admits 'rush' from sex offending

By Anne Clarkson at the Rangiora Court House

A sex offender who admitted he got an adrenaline rush when he exposed himself to girls has been jailed for six months.

Transient 31-year-old Peter James Ashwell was unwilling to participate in any intervention programmes available, his sentencing in the Christchurch District Court session at Rangiora Court House was told.        

Ashwell was caught after exposing himself to two girl students while riding his bicycle.

Defence counsel Serina Bailey said he had stopped to urinate, and admitted that he exposed himself to the girls.

He was being smart to the police and denied any intent to commit a crime, she said.

Ashwell told police he had been having fantasies about sex with girls. He was found by the police in Little Hagley Park at a time when schoolgirls were heading to school. He told police he would not rape the girls “but would hold them down and if they cried, that would be all right”.

Mrs Bailey said Ashwell was a transient, so home or community detention sentences were not workable, and he accepted that he would receive a short prison sentence.

His previous offences  have been mostly court breaches and nuisance offences, and he had had short periods in prison for them.

Judge John Strettell said the girls had gone through a traumatic and troubling experience that society did not permit.

Ashwell told the probation report writer that he got an adrenaline rush when he exposed himself. He said he knew it was highly inappropriate but saw it as a joke.

Judge Strettell said Ashwell had a lack of remorse and was unwilling to participate in any intervention programmes available.

He had an earlier indecent assault conviction, and one for indecent exposure, and he failed to comply with release and bail conditions.