Teen repeats offence two months into supervision

A teenager on intensive supervision for indecently assaulting a child has been assessed by psychiatrists after touching a young girl in Blenheim.

Stephen Arnold Souness, 19, pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl, and assaulting a 7-year-old boy at the Taylor River Reserve in Blenheim on June 18.

He was two months into a sentence of intensive supervision at the time, for indecent offending against a child when he was aged 17. The sentence banned him from contacting any children aged under 16.

A police summary of facts said Souness was fishing near a walkway at the reserve when the children walked past about 4pm.

Souness went over to the girl and touched her on the outside of her clothing. She told him to stop, but he poked her with his fingers in inappropriate places multiple times.

Souness then punched the boy on the arm, kicked and kneed him to the leg and gave him a ‘‘Chinese burn’’, the summary said.

A passer-by who knew the children arrived, prompting Souness to leave.

Souness appeared at the Blenheim District Court yesterday, by audio visual link.

Probation had cancelled the intensive supervision sentence, and applied for him to be resentenced on the earlier charges of indecent assault.

His lawyer Philip Watson said Souness had been assessed by two psychiatrists, and a hearing was needed to determine whether he was ‘‘fit to stand trial’’.

Judge Ian Mill remanded him in custody to December 19 for the hearing.