Outrage at delayed sentencing

ANOTHER delay in the sentencing of a convicted George paedophile has angered antichild abuse activists, who have called the delay “outrageous”.

In April well-known dentist and 45-year-old father of three Ian Venter was found guilty on charges of child sexual assault. He had abused his son’s then 12 year-old friend who had slept over at his Herold’s Bay home in 2015.

Venter was accused of going into his guest room where the boy was sleeping, pulling the child’s pants down and touching his private parts. Women and Men Against Child Abuse said the postponement of Venter’s pre-sentencing trial to January 14 was unacceptable and unfair to the victim’s family.

The group’s lawyer Joanne Barrett said there was a request by the court for further investigation and information on the welfare of Venter’s minor sons should he go to jail.

“The social worker suggested that incarceration should be enforced due to him re-offending a second time and so soon after his conviction for which he has been serving a 4-year house arrest term.”

Separate to the case, Venter was convicted in 2014 of performing sexual acts on a friend’s minor son during a holiday sleepover in 2011, and was sentenced to four years house arrest.

During his testimony the boy, 15 at the time, said Venter had given him alcohol and showed him pornographic material before performing sexual acts on him at his home in George.