Teen f led from grandfather

A teenager who woke to find her grandfather indecently assaulting her was so scared, she climbed out of the window of the Ngaruawahia property.

The 63-year-old – who cannot be named because it may identify the victim – had been drinking with relatives, including the 17-year-old, on Boxing Day, Hamilton District Court heard yesterday.

The girl woke in the middle of the night to find he had removed some of her clothes and was trying to kiss her.

Judge Philip Connell said the girl’s immediate reaction was telling.

‘‘She left the bedroom by climbing out of the window, which gives an indication of how much she was upset by this behaviour of yours,’’ he said.

The man also left the room and met her outside, where he apologised.

But when police asked him why he did it, he said he just thought he would ‘‘have a crack’’; an attitude which troubled the judge.

At the time, the offender told police he was heavily intoxicated when the incident took place but later told probation he was not.

Judge Connell said the offending was an enormous breach of trust and had caused ructions within the family.

Though the judge was concerned about the man’s perceived lack of motivation to go through rehabilitative programmes, he was to some extent saved by his lack of previous relevant convictions.

The 63-year-old was sentenced to 10 months’ home detention and was ordered not to consume alcohol or contact the victim.