Indecent act sours student’s view of country

A man masturbating in a library’s romance section has marred a foreign exchange student’s view of New Zealand.

Mark Edwin Hill, 58, was sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment after masturbating in the Palmerston North City Library on two occasions, in September and October this year.

In both incidents, Hill was looking at a young woman while committing the indecent acts for 10 to 15 minutes.

Information from a victim impact statement, relayed by Judge Lance Rowe at the Palmerston North District Court on Tuesday, said on one of these occasions, a 16-year-old foreign student felt threatened and unsafe.

‘‘She took what was previously a very happy view of New Zealand, and a safe view, to feeling threatened and having to look over her shoulder. This has altered her view of the country.’’

Rowe said people should be able to got to a public space without being subjected to inappropriate behaviour.

Although Hill pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, the real issue was that he acknowledged he had a problem, but he didn’t know what to do about it, Rowe said. ‘‘You’re shaking your head and saying you won’t be back on this sort of charge. I’m hoping that is the case.’’

Hill would undergo a psychological assessment and additional treatment recommended by the psychologist, Rowe said.

Hill had about 20 convictions for this type of offending, but was determined to sort it out, defence lawyer Marina Anderson said.

She said Hill had described his actions as disgusting and understood ‘‘enough is enough’’.

His offending spanned four decades. Most recently, he was jailed in March this year for committing an indecent act in the Palmerston North Esplanade in November 2016.

He has also been convicted for masturbating near a playground in the park.