John Tekuru appeared via audio-visual link at an earlier hearing in the Rotorua District Court. Photo / Kelly Makiha
John Tekuru appeared via audio-visual link at an earlier hearing in the Rotorua District Court. Photo / Kelly Makiha
WARNING: This story discusses intended sexual offending against a child.
Two days after he was freed from prison for abducting a 3-year-old with the intent to rape her, John Tekuru was found at a playground, school and kindergarten.
Tekuru, 20, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in January for snatchinga 3-year-old girl from a Rotorua daycare in March last year.
After serving half his sentence, he was freed in March this year and was subject to electronic monitoring.
That data went on to find him in breach of his prison release conditions, which state that he should not loiter or enter a place where people under 16 are gathered.
It showed that, two days after his release, Tekuru went to a playground.
He confirmed with Corrections that he entered the park containing the playground, and a warning was issued.
A couple of days later, he was detected about 8am at a high school that shares an entranceway with an early childhood education centre.
Not be in contact with people under 16 unless supervised by an approved informed adult and it was authorised in writing;
Not to enter areas where children are likely to be present, including playgrounds and schools, without written approval;
Not to contact the victim;
To undergo psychological assessment and treatment;
Undergo alcohol and drug treatment;
Not to use alcohol or non‑prescribed drugs; and
Not to enter Rotorua without written approval.
The court heard today that Corrections was ready to transport Tekuru to an address suitable for living, subject to the conditions upon release.
The abduction
At his sentencing in Rotorua District Court in January, it was revealed that Tekuru suffered from schizophrenia.
On the day he took the girl, he had been smoking cannabis, was off his medication and claimed to have voices in his head telling him what to do.
The name of the Rotorua daycare the girl attended has been permanently suppressed to protect her identity.
Tekuru loitered outside the centre’s grounds for more than an hour. He twice scaled a 2m-high fence and entered the grounds undetected, taking the girl the second time.
He carried her towards his home, but let her go when she cried hysterically. She ran back to the centre.
He had her in his possession for about three to four minutes.
When police later found Tekuru, he told them he had intended to rape her.
At his sentencing, the girl’s parents were visibly distraught.
The mother’s victim impact statement said: “It makes me sick to my stomach that this man had the motive and intentions to sexually harm my 3-year-old daughter.”
Ella Scott-Fleming has been a journalist for three years and previously worked at the Otago Daily Times, Gore Ensign and Metro magazine. She has an interest in court and general reporting. She’s currently based in Auckland, covering justice-related stories.
