Jail for sex with teens

A 34-year-old man has been jailed for six years and seven months for sexual grooming and unlawful sexual connection with two girls.

When Craig Richard Philpot met a 13-year-old girl through a member of her family, she began sending him text messages and he arranged to meet her.

He took her to some Christchurch hotels and added vodka to her lemonade drinks. He told her not to reply to texts from her parents, who were trying to reach her.

They kept in touch and when she turned 14 began having sex at Philpot’s house. After Philpot was arrested and released on bail, they began seeing each other several times a week.

He befriended another girl, 15, and took her home, where she spent the night. She continued to text Philpot until she got a text from the first girl telling her to stop.

Philpot was sentenced on two charges of arranging to meet a young person for sexual grooming, two representative charges of sexual connection with a young person and drink-driving.

Crown prosecutor Kathy Bell told the Christchurch District Court both victims were vulnerable. One offence was committed while Philpot was on bail.

Defence counsel Kerry Cook said Philpot was remorseful and apologetic.

Judge Michael Crosbie said in the first victim-impact statement, the 14-year-old said she felt betrayed and was confused and angry. The second victim reported she felt guilty when she read about his guilty plea and she was angry and upset.

Judge Crosbie said Philpot had gone on a determined and predatory course of conduct. His behaviour was premeditated and reprehensible.

He sentenced Philpot to prison and read him the first of the three-strikes warnings that impose heavier penalties on repeat violent and sexual offenders.