Anger as Judge Goes Easy on Paedophile

3rd February 2016

“Every person commits an offence who does any act that constitutes an offence against section 131(1), knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the publication is objectionable.
In the case of an individual, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to a fine not exceeding $50,000:

Hamilton man Samuel Lars Fairhurst, who was 21 at the time of offending, was sentenced to 12 months' intensive supervision and 300 hours of community work when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday morning, on two charges of possession of objectionable material, laid under the Films, Videos and Publications Act.

Fairhurst stalked his 12 year old victim, who did not know him at all, on Facebook sending her a message saying “hi”.
An online conversation began between the pair, during which Fairhurst expressed a desire to have sexual intercourse with the victim even after she had told him she was only 12.

The following day, Fairhurst sent the victim a photograph of his penis, accompanied by the caption: "Do you want this?"

Judge Simon Menzies said “when weighed up against similar cases of its kind and the defendant's lack of previous offences and early guilty plea I feel a community-based sentence would be more appropriate” and in doing so totally ignored a pre-sentence report that had a recommendation of imprisonment, due to Fairhurst's lack of insight into his own offending or expressions of remorse.

Sensible Sentencing Trust National Child Abuse Spokesperson Scott Guthrie says it shows just how weak our judicial system is when a paedophile is simply released back into the community to carry on doing what he pleases.

Guthrie goes on to say the sentence of “12 months intensive supervision” is laughable when every other day we see so called home detention based prisoners cut off their bracelets and abscond, so just how intensive is the supervision.

"Judge Menzies could have and clearly should have sent this offender to prison but once again our judicial system has gone weak at the knees and seems to be more concerned about the offender than the victim. Parliament has given these Judges the tools to protect society - the question needs to be asked why are they not using them?"

Scott is repeatedly demanding that the Judges of New Zealand, who are the gate keepers of society and the enforcers of our laws. "Step up and start enforcing the laws as they are written and stop pandering to every little squeal the offender makes about just how good they have been and also start considering the victims of these sick disgusting and horrific crimes." ENDS

ends

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