A Dunedin plumber left his job site to molest a teenage girl in a “vile” sex attack, a court has heard.<\/p>\n
Peter Wayne Lindsay, 66, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting a charge of indecent assault.<\/p>\n
His application for final name suppression was refused by Judge David Robinson.<\/p>\n
In 1995, the defendant was a plumber contracted to work on the victim\u2019s Mosgiel home, the court heard.<\/p>\n
The girl was 16 at the time and was home alone while Lindsay was working on a neighbouring house.<\/p>\n
He went into the victim\u2019s home holding a tap and said he wanted to show her something in the bathroom.<\/p>\n
The pair went to the bathroom, but Lindsay pinned the girl against the basin.<\/p>\n
He then kissed the girl, “forcing his tongue down her throat” a police summary said, before fondling and kissing her breasts.<\/p>\n
Lindsay then exposed himself and forced the girl to perform a sex act on him.<\/p>\n
He walked outside and kissed the victim again before touching her breast and telling her not to tell anyone.<\/p>\n
Lindsay then headed back to work at the nearby property.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the victim told the court how she had suffered for the past 30 years.<\/p>\n
“That day has pivoted my life direction, those brutal actions altered my life path,” the victim said.<\/p>\n
Because of her religious upbringing she did not know what was happening to her.<\/p>\n
“I was naive and vulnerable, you took advantage of that,” she said.<\/p>\n
She had struggled with health issues since the offending, which had given her a “life sentence”, she said.<\/p>\n
But she wanted Lindsay to know his actions did not define her.<\/p>\n
“You have no power or control over me and that is what that day back in 1995 was all about,” she said.<\/p>\n
“At least today, 30 years later, I have taken that back.”<\/p>\n
Counsel Bill Dawkins said his client was sorry for the offending and described it as “a one-off”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Judge Robinson acknowledged the serious effects the assault had on the victim.<\/p>\n
“Those are down to you and your selfish, premeditated and vile attack on her,” he said.<\/p>\n
There was a “high degree of intrusiveness” involved in the offending.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The judge noted the defendant had no other convictions and was well regarded by his peers.<\/p>\n
Judge Robinson sentenced Lindsay to seven months\u2019 home detention, 200 hours\u2019 community work and ordered him to pay $10,000 emotional harm reparation.<\/p>\n