Sex pest dentist jailed

Four years after his last court appearance, 47-year-old George dentist Ian Venter has finally been sentenced, reports George Herald.

He was found guilty of sexual assault of a minor on April 11 last year, after sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in 2015. The boy slept over at Venter’s house in Herolds Bay when he was assaulted. He ran home after the assault.

Magistrate Francis Makamandela, who sentenced Venter to three years behind bars, said that during judgment she took all factors into consideration and that jail time was the only fit punishment.

She said Venter’s previous sentence of correctional supervision did not have the desired result, as it was contravened.

Makamandela emphasised that the court must protect all children, including the victim, as well as the accused’s children. Immediately after the sentencing, Venter wanted to appeal, but Makamandela denied his application.

According to a reliable source, approximately 100 antidepressants were found hidden in Venter’s socks during an inspection before he was led to his jail cell.

Venter was sentenced to four years of correctional supervision in November 2014. In September that year, he was found guilty of having sex with a 15-yearold boy in December 2011. The parents of the 2011 victim, from Pretoria, were regularly in court to follow the proceedings.

The first victim’s mother told George Herald: “The fact that he got three years in jail doesn’t make us feel better, but at least other children are safe.” – Caxton News Service