Teen admits assaults in walkway

A teenager who ran up behind three women before indecently assaulting them was unable to tell police why he committed the crimes.

Te Rangiaho Ian Williams, 18, pleaded guilty in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday to the indecent assaults.

He previously had name suppression, but defence lawyer Tim Hesketh said there were no grounds for it to continue.

Williams’ assaults took place in Palmerston North on May 1, 8 and 11.

The first, at 12.40pm, was on a woman who was walking on the Mangaone Stream walkway.

Williams started following her and ran up behind her but, despite wearing headphones, she heard him and turned around. He walked away, and the woman thought it was a case of him mistaking her for someone else.

But he again ran up behind her, indecently assaulting her before fleeing.

The second assault happened the same way – Williams running up behind a woman wearing headphones – but on Vernon Ave at 11.40am.

The third was also on the Mangaone Stream walkway, at 4.34pm.

Williams took his chance to assault the woman while she stopped to talk on a cellphone before he fled towards Rosedale Cres.

He admitted everything when he was arrested and was deeply remorseful, but could not explain his actions.

Hesketh said he wanted the possibility of restorative justice – a meeting between Williams and the victims – to be explored.

‘‘I appreciate that this type of offending may not be particularly conducive to it, but I welcome the opportunity for Mr Williams to express his remorse directly to the victims.’’

Judge Bruce Northwood put Williams on bail with a 24-hour curfew until his sentencing next month.

A teenager was unable to tell police why he committed the crimes.