Home detention for prayer paedophile
A former Marist Brother who sexually abused three girls in the 1970s was found to still have a sexual interest in young girls, 40 years later.
In the 1970s Michael Beaumont abused a 9-year-old girl while her family had their eyes closed in prayer.
Beaumont admitted the historical indecent assault charge on the morning he was due to stand trial at the Auckland District Court in February.
The 72-year-old has also pleaded guilty to two charges relating to touching two other girls, also in the 1970s.
But despite the historical nature of the offending, Beaumont’s sexual interest in young girls continued.
When he was arrested in May, 2018, the police found a USB stick in his pocket.
The hard drive contained eight paedophile fantasy stories that detailed the sexual abuse of children.
Yesterday, at the North Shore District Court, Beaumont was sentenced to a year’s home detention at his unit in Onehunga.
Judge Down also ordered Beaumont to pay $3000 in emotional harm payments and that his name should be added to the child sex offenders’ register.
‘‘I am satisfied that you do pose an ongoing risk to the sexual safety of children generally in the community.’’
Beaumont sat in the dock at the North Shore District Court with his head slightly bowed as Judge Down told him his offending was a ‘‘significant’’ breach of trust.
Beaumont, a former Marist Brother, had been teaching and working in the Masterton community in the 1970s when he sexually abused the children.
According to court documents, Marist Brothers were highly respected and ‘‘went unquestioned’’ by parishioners.