But there was no suggestion the man — in his 30s — had committed any further sex crimes, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
Yesterday’s hearing was dominated by the issue of the defendant’s name suppression, sparking heated exchanges between Judge David Robinson and counsel Judith Ablett-Kerr KC.
Ultimately, the judge indicated there was not enough evidence to grant a permanent non-publication order but was persuaded to delay the decision so further information could be provided to the court.
Until then, the sex offender’s name will remain under wraps.
In early 2021, the defendant established social-media profiles on two platforms under the name of "Jack".
On one he entered his age as 15 and set his preferences to chat with girls from 13-17.
In his bio, the defendant accepted he was "probably" older than the account suggested but said if girls were nearby "I will probably buy you things".
In June that year, he contacted the teenage victim, who lived in the North Island at the time.
"Hey you’re cute what city are you in?" the man asked.
Just days later, the defendant was in Auckland playing in a sports competition.
When he found his travel plans had been delayed, he resumed contact with the girl.
After she had confirmed her desire to meet, the man bought a mattress, blanket and glowstick necklaces from The Warehouse and arranged them in the back of his vehicle.
The victim climbed out of her bedroom window and got into the passenger seat to find "Jack" was a portly man in his 30s.
The defendant drove to a local school carpark and they got into the back of the vehicle.
"The victim felt scared and froze and went along with what was happening," court documents said.
When the girl said she did not want to have sex, the defendant took her home.
The next day he told her to look in the bush outside her home where she found a box of chocolates and $75 cash.
Judge Robinson said the girl had since been plagued by PTSD, anxiety and depression and spent two periods in a facility because of her thoughts of self-harm.
The defendant’s further crimes came in February last year — first when he assaulted his partner and then when he attacked police the following day.
When the man was informed he would be taken to the police station, he bit an officer two or three times on his forearm.
Police were only able to transport him once he had "tired himself out", the court heard.
The defendant told a psychologist he had acted as a "sugar daddy" to women he met online and had given gifts or money to up to 20 of them.
His actions, he explained, were not sexual but motivated by a desire for companionship.
"He has a concrete understanding what occurred was wrong and can never happen again," Ms Ablett-Kerr said.
"While it’s been a terrible experience for the complainant, it’s also been a dreadful period for [the defendant] and his family as they support him."
Judge Robinson accepted the defendant’s psychological issues had played a key role in the offending and acknowledged he was seen as a low risk of further crimes.
The man was convicted of grooming, sexual conduct with a young person, assault and obstructing police.
He was sentenced to 24 months’ intensive supervision and the judge opted not to put him on the Child Sex Offender Register.
