Man punished for taking photos of bikini-clad girls on beach

A 61-year-old man who took photos of bikini-clad girls at Nelson’s Kaiteriteri Beach without them knowing ‘‘offended against the recognised standards of decency’’, a court has heard.

Graham Thomas Rowe was sentenced in the Nelson District Court yesterday morning, having been found guilty by a jury last month of doing an indecent act with intent to insult.

Judge Tony Zohrab sentenced Rowe to 120 hours’ community work and six months’ supervision with a special condition to work with a probation officer to reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

Rowe told a probation officer he intended to appeal his conviction and have it overturned.

Rowe took photos of three girls, believed to be aged 12 to 15, wearing bikinis at Kaiteriteri Beach on January 23 last year. He did not seek their permission and took steps to conceal what he was doing.

‘‘It’s pretty clear that this behaviour is unacceptable. It offends against the recognised standards of decency,’’ Zohrab said.

Taking photographs at a public beach is legal in most circumstances, but the trial focussed on Rowe’s intentions.

Rowe said he took photos of the girls because he found them attractive and they looked to be having fun.

He had a folder on his laptop called ‘‘girls’’ that contained thousands of photos.

He denied his actions were sexually motivated, saying medication he took for depression suppressed his libido.

At Rowe’s sentencing, Zohrab said although Rowe’s behaviour was ‘‘totally inappropriate’’, there was nothing objectionable found on his computer.

In a brief statement read to the court, Rowe said he had been ‘‘reflecting deeply on the effect of my photography on others’’.

He told a probation officer he intended to ask permission before taking photos of people in future.