Under-age connection admitted

A former Oamaru woman who admitted joining a man in sleeping with an underage girl has avoided registration as a child sex offender.

Nai Corbishley, 21, who now lives in Christchurch, appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Timaru District Court on Friday, having pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual connection with a girl under 16 in Oamaru. Her cooffender was sentenced earlier to eight months home detention.

Crown prosecutor Helen Bennett said she was concerned Corbishley did not take full responsibility for her actions.

"The defendant claims, had she established the victim’s age, she would not have offended in this manner,’’ Bennett said.

‘‘The basis of her plea was she accepted her role in the offending, but this seems to detract from that.’’ Defence lawyer Douglas Brown argued ‘‘it fits perfectly within the charge’’ as simply a statement of fact.

‘‘There’s acknowledgment within that, that she was careless. She should have made the inquiry.’’ She was convicted and sentenced to six months home detention.