A Dunedin plumber left his job site to molest a teenage girl in a “vile” sex attack, a court has heard.
Peter Wayne Lindsay, 66, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting a charge of indecent assault.
His application for final name suppression was refused by Judge David Robinson.
In 1995, the defendant was a plumber contracted to work on the victim’s Mosgiel home, the court heard.
The girl was 16 at the time and was home alone while Lindsay was working on a neighbouring house.
He went into the victim’s home holding a tap and said he wanted to show her something in the bathroom.
The pair went to the bathroom, but Lindsay pinned the girl against the basin.
He then kissed the girl, “forcing his tongue down her throat” a police summary said, before fondling and kissing her breasts.
Lindsay then exposed himself and forced the girl to perform a sex act on him.
He walked outside and kissed the victim again before touching her breast and telling her not to tell anyone.
Lindsay then headed back to work at the nearby property.
Yesterday, the victim told the court how she had suffered for the past 30 years.
“That day has pivoted my life direction, those brutal actions altered my life path,” the victim said.
Because of her religious upbringing she did not know what was happening to her.
“I was naive and vulnerable, you took advantage of that,” she said.
She had struggled with health issues since the offending, which had given her a “life sentence”, she said.
But she wanted Lindsay to know his actions did not define her.
“You have no power or control over me and that is what that day back in 1995 was all about,” she said.
“At least today, 30 years later, I have taken that back.”
Counsel Bill Dawkins said his client was sorry for the offending and described it as “a one-off”.
He argued a sentence of community detention and community work should be imposed as home detention would make it difficult for Lindsay to continue his work as a self-employed plumber.
Judge Robinson acknowledged the serious effects the assault had on the victim.
“Those are down to you and your selfish, premeditated and vile attack on her,” he said.
There was a “high degree of intrusiveness” involved in the offending.
Lindsay had not offered any explanation for his actions and a probation officer said he seemed to be more worried about the impact of the proceedings on himself and his wife.
The judge noted the defendant had no other convictions and was well regarded by his peers.
Judge Robinson sentenced Lindsay to seven months’ home detention, 200 hours’ community work and ordered him to pay $10,000 emotional harm reparation.