Man who put phone up skirt named

Ian Kenyon took a child with him to a Rotorua supermarket when he tried to take a photograph up a woman's skirt.

He then tried to use his children as a reason to keep his name secret.

The 40-year-old appeared in the Rotorua District Court before Judge Phillip Cooper yesterday for sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of indecent assault.

Until now, Kenyon has had interim name suppression, but his bid to keep his name secret was refused by Judge Cooper - and was opposed by The Daily Post.

He was arrested after his female victim caught him trying to take the photograph with a mobile phone on April 11.

The woman only knew of the abuse because Kenyon brushed his arm against her leg twice, once close to her private parts.

When she turned around, Kenyon was crouched on the floor with the cellphone inside her skirt.

"Clearly you were attempting to take a photo ... It was a gross invasion of her privacy," Judge Cooper said.

Kenyon's lawyer, Rob Vigor Brown, submitted an affidavit to the court from the principal of the school Kenyon's children attended, stating publication of his identity could lead to bullying and ridicule of them.

"[The principal] confirmed [Kenyon's] eldest daughter's confidence can be broken if his name is published. In his experience, families in some cases have had to relocate to other towns. This is an area where children are innocent bystanders and can and would be adversely affected. His concern is for the welfare of the children at his school," he said.

Naming Kenyon could also set back his rehabilitation, Mr Vigor Brown told the court.

But police prosecutor Aroha Cooper said Kenyon could not hide behind his children, especially considering he took one of them to the supermarket as cover so as not to alert anyone what he was up to.

"He has put himself in this position," she said.



Ms Cooper said the victim screamed and yelled at Kenyon when she caught him crouching down beside her with a cellphone up her skirt. Ms Cooper said she only stopped because the child was crying.

"She realised it was upsetting the child. He used that child as cover and is now wanting to use his other children to get name suppression," she said.

Judge Cooper said the crime was a "gross breach of trust" and Kenyon could not hide behind his children.

"This is a case of high public interest ... The principal says your [child] may be teased, she may be bullied and she might suffer self-esteem issues. That is nothing out of the ordinary."

Judge Cooper sentenced Kenyon to 150 hours' community work and supervision with counselling for six months. He also ordered he pay $500 to his victim.

Outside court, his 44-year-old victim told The Daily Post she was pleased with the sentence.

"It's good. I just wanted him to know that his actions were wrong and harmful," she said.