Bolton hopes to avoid conviction

A Paraparaumu man who named the victim of an indecent assault on a talkback radio show hosted by Heather Du PlessisAllan is hoping to avoid conviction.

Kerry Raymond Bolton, 61, was set to defend the charge during a judge-alone trial, but changed his plea to guilty just as the trial was expected to begin yesterday morning in the Porirua District Court.

Bolton admitted naming the victim of an indecent assault committed by Ka¯ piti Coast councillor David John Scott during a council morning tea in April 2017.

Scott was convicted and fined $1500 in May this year for rubbing his genitals against a female staffer, but he has since lodged an appeal.

The woman’s identity was automatically suppressed.

A police summary of facts read to the court yesterday said that the day after Scott’s trial, Bolton phoned in to the Wellington talkback radio programme and mentioned the complainant’s name twice.

The charge carries a maximum fine of $25,000.

His lawyer John Tannahill said Bolton would be applying to be discharged without a conviction.

The police prosecution said they would be making a ‘‘firm opposition’’ to the application.

Outside the courtroom, Scott’s victim said she took no comfort in Bolton’s guilty plea. ‘‘It’s too little too late. He should have done that earlier to save him and his aged supporters from this protracted stress,’’ she said.

One of her supporters said it was unfair the matter still wasn’t settled. ‘‘It’s ridiculous that she has to come here to the court every time and face these people. It makes her a victim all over again.’’

Also outside of court, Bolton said he felt ‘‘extremely annoyed by the whole thing’’ and believed ‘‘a pre-charge warning would’ve been more appropriate’’.

‘‘I’ve never said the name before or since.’’

Judge Denys Barry noted the guilty plea, but did not enter a conviction. He further remanded Bolton at large and ordered him to reappear in January.

Scott was in the public gallery during the hearing but declined to comment afterwards.