Victims back man’s rehab sentence

A 42-year-old South Canterbury man has been sentenced after admitting indecently assaulting five girls over a six-year period while he was a teenager.

Jason Graham Pullman-Stewart was sentenced to 18 months’ intensive supervision when he appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday.

He had pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting girls under 12 and three counts of indecently assaulting girls aged 12 to 16. All charges were representative and encompassed numerous incidents.

The offending occurred between July 18, 1992, and November 26, 1997. Pullman-Stewart was aged 14 to 18 at the time.

‘‘The offending involved pinning a victim to the ground and simulating sexual intercourse by rubbing over her clothes. The only skin-on-skin contact was kissing on the mouth,’’ Judge Maze said.

In a summary of facts, Crown prosecutor Andrew McRae said that on two occasions, Pullman-Stewart began tickling the girls before molesting them. One of them also saw his erect penis.

Judge Maze said no further accusations of indecent assault had been made against Pullman-Stewart in the 22 years since the offending.

‘‘He does acknowledge he needs help.’’

The judge said sexual offending had a ‘‘life-long impact on victims’’, particularly children.

‘‘It entrenches in them vulnerability and anxiety that passes through life with them.’’

McRae said because of Pullman-Stewart’s age at the time of offending, the three strikes law did not apply and only two of the charges – committed when he was 18 – could result in registration as a child sex offender. McRae did not pursue registration.

Defence lawyer Lee Lee Heah said she supported probation’s recommendation that Pullman-Stewart be sentenced to intensive supervision, with the special condition he take part in a Stop programme.

‘‘He understands if for any reason he’s unable to take part in such a programme, probation will apply for substitution to home detention.’’

Judge Maze said Pullman-Stewart’s victims supported a rehabilitative approach to sentencing.