'Father figure' avoids prison after indecent acts

A 31-year-old Wanganui man had lowered the standards of his community, his family and his own moral code by his sexual offending against a teenage girl, the Whanganui District Court has been told.

At the sentencing of Daniel John Taylor, the court was also told his offences had traumatised his victim and caused division in his church.

Taylor, who had pleaded guilty, faced a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for offences of meeting a young person with indecent intent and six counts of doing an indecent act on a young person.

However, he was sentenced to 10 months' home detention and six months' special post-detention conditions.

Anton Hayns, of Auckland, told Judge David Cameron his client had set himself boundaries in his conduct and argued for a sentence of two to two-and-a-half years because of the absence of intercourse.

Mr Hayns said Taylor was a good man, a committed Christian who had slipped up, adding that his client had lowered the standards of his community, his family and his own moral code.

"The conviction alone carries denunciation," Mr Hayns said.

Crown prosecutor Harry Mallalieu countered that Taylor's actions were a breach of trust and took place over a year, were premeditated and manipulation was involved.

He said the girl had been psychologically impacted and had been the only person to testify at the trial, which was a traumatic experience.

Taylor arrived in court yesterday from prison, where he had spent the past five weeks.

The public gallery was packed with his family and supporters, believed to be from the church, where he held leadership roles.

At sentencing, Judge Cameron told Taylor that throughout the offending, which started in 2008, he had presented himself as a father figure and it was inappropriate that he had said the victim had pressured him.

However, Taylor had written a letter of apology to the girl, which Judge Cameron said demonstrated genuine response, and instructed the original be given to her. He said Taylor's actions had damaged relationships, including the girl's family relationships.