* A popular entertainer drunkenly exposed himself and forced a 16-year-old girl's face into his genitals.

* He admitted the crime, but in court yesterday, Judge Eddie Paul let him off without conviction and permanently suppressed his name.

* The reason? Publicity would have a detrimental effect on his career and his record and ticket sales.

Judge Eddie Paul ruled that the consequences of a conviction and publicly naming the man would be out of proportion to the gravity of the offence. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Judge Eddie Paul ruled that the consequences of a conviction and publicly naming the man would be out of proportion to the gravity of the offence. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The 16-year-old victim of an indecent act by a drunk high-profile musician says his behaviour was "disgusting and wrong" and she will never buy his records or concert tickets.

The man, in his 30s, escaped a conviction and kept his identity secret when he was sentenced by Judge Eddie Paul in the Auckland District Court yesterday.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the media - including the Weekend Herald, TVNZ and TV3 - opposed permanent name suppression.

The musician had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of committing an indecent act likely to offend, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Judge Paul ruled that the consequences of a conviction and publicly naming the man would be out of proportion to the gravity of the offence, which he considered "medium to low-level".

Details of the crime were read out in court by Judge Paul, who said the incident happened in the early hours of a Thursday morning in March in downtown Wellington.

At 3.30am, the musician was on his way to his hotel when he was recognised by a group of young women.

Two of the women asked to kiss him on the cheek, which he allowed, before he told them to "kiss my balls".

Hand-in-hand with the two women, the man led the pair up an alleyway, then pulled out his penis.

Again, the man told the women to "kiss my balls".

The women did not say anything and one of their friends walked into the alleyway.

The court heard that the man grabbed her head and forced it down to his crotch. The victim felt the man's penis on her cheek and moved her head to stop it entering her mouth. The 16-year-old pulled away and the man let her go.

As she ran from the alley, she could hear him laughing.

Judge Paul said naming and shaming the star would have a "significantly adverse effect" on his international career and a detrimental effect on his record and ticket sales.

A conviction would affect his ability to travel overseas for performances.

Last night, Louise Nicholas, who testified about sexual abuse allegedly committed by three policemen, said it was wrong that the entertainer had the protection of name suppression.