A man who had sex with an underage girl at a party at the home of Oscar nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes has been sentenced to 125 hours' community work.
At the Auckland District Court yesterday, Judge Simon Lockhart, QC, also placed Mark Maurice Leigh, 22, of Glenn Innes, under 12 months'supervision.
Leigh had pleaded guilty to having sex with the girl, who was nearly 15.
The incident took place at a Glenn Innes house last August.
Prosecutor Josh Shaw said Leigh took advantage of the girl, who was vulnerable because of her age, the fact she was intoxicated and because of her sexual inexperience.
He said that Leigh manipulated the situation to be alone with the girl.
Defence lawyer Maria Pecotic said Leigh denied that there was any manipulation.
He thought the girl was 17 and did not know she was intoxicated.
Ms Pecotic said the complainant was a friend of Castle-Hughes. Her mother, Desrae Hughes, bought alcohol for the party and some of the girls brought a 40-ounce bottle of rum.
Keisha's mother was home throughout the evening, said Ms Pecotic.
