April 21, 2008

Child sex arrangement leads to beating, prison

Name suppression has been lifted for a man who was charged with sexual conduct with a young person aged 12 to 16 years, and attempting to receive commercial sexual services from an under 18 year old.

A 48-hour suppression order was imposed at the man?s sentencing on Friday in the Christchurch District Court, to enable family to be told. The name can now be published.

Andrew Clem Campbell, 40, a branch manager, had been out to dinner and then to the casino with his wife. She left him there, drinking and gambling, and afterwards Campbell walked to the city. He followed a young boy into a dairy and offered him $40 for sex.

The boy went to a group of people and talked to a girl, who accompanied him back to Campbell and they decided to accept Campbell?s offer.

When taken into an alleyway, the boy started to cry out and Campbell covered his mouth with his hand. The boy bit Campbell and yelled out, and a group of five to six youths arrived and gave Campbell a severe beating.

The police found him walking around on Colombo Street.

Because of the beating and the alcohol Campbell had consumed, he could not remember what had happened, and had to wait for DNA evidence before he pleaded guilty.

Judge Graeme Noble, who sentenced Campbell to prison for two years and three months, told him that he had entered the murky world of under-age prostitution. He added that this was a ?serious one-off circumstance involving a 12-year-old complainant?.

Defence counsel Jonathon Eaton told the court that Campbell was deeply ashamed and disgusted with himself. He and his family were disbelieving that he could put himself in this position because it was so out of character.

Campbell had consumed no alcohol since the incident.