Teacher avoids jail over indecent assaults

Heremia Smith. Photo / Greg Bowker

A former teacher has been sentenced to a year's home detention for indecently assaulting female students.

Heremia Smith was found guilty by an Auckland District Court jury on six charges of indecently assaulting girls in his care. He later admitted three more charges of indecent assault against a girl who came forward during his trial.

Sentencing had earlier been delayed when two addresses Smith provided to the court, to live at during home detention, were determined inappropriate.

Today in Auckland District Court, Judge Josephine Bouchier said a Gisborne address was suitable and sentenced Smith to one year in home detention.

She also ordered him not to drink alcohol or use illegal drugs and said if he was with any girls under 16 he had to be supervised by an adult.

He was also ordered to undertake counselling as required.

The judge said Smith still maintained his innocence and that meant his motivation to change was not good.

Smith was head of Maori studies at Glenfield College.

- NZPA