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Offender Databases
Jeffrey Driver
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Sexual assault of a number of Wellington boys aged 10-16 over a period of nearly ten years from 1998
.
none known
Born 1934
Prison
Sentenced to seven years in November 2007
Eligible for parole from March 2012
Statutory Release Date July 2014
Background
The Dominion Post, 17 November 2007
A model train enthusiast who sexually abused boys for more than 50 years was derailed when another paedophile, with whom he shared a victim, was caught.
Jeffrey Joseph Driver was jailed for seven years yesterday - the second member of the Hutt Valley Model Railway club to be convicted of child-sex crimes. Driver, 73, of Lower Hutt, admitted 10 charges including indecent assault of three boys - all members of the club - in the past seven years, sexual violation, and creating and possessing objectionable material. Police say he has admitted offending since he was a teenager and are alarmed he could have done so for as long as he did without being detected. They say the case is a reminder to parents and those who run groups for children to be vigilant against such offenders, who gravitate toward such organisations.
"I think it's appalling that a person can sexually offend against children from their teenage years, for nearly six decades, and not be detected or authorities advised," said Detective Sergeant Tusha Penny, who headed the inquiry. Driver was involved in the Silver Stream Railway Museum, St John Ambulance Cadets, Wellington Sun Club, Lower Hutt Repertory Society, Hutt Operatic Society and Wainuiomata Little Theatre. He was a Scout leader in Island Bay, Berhampore and Hunterville and had been involved in the Scouts in Masterton.
"There's absolutely no need for parents to stop doing these activities, but there's always a need for vigilance." Driver's offending came to light after the model railway club's treasurer Graeme Andrew Upchurch was arrested. Upchurch, 38, was sentenced to 5 years' six months jail last month after admitting sexually abusing five children, two boys and three girls aged nine to 15. At least one was a member of the club. Police say one of the boys Driver groomed from the age of 10 was later abused by Upchurch.
Driver, a small man whose face is usually dwarfed by his glasses, cried in the dock at Wellington District Court yesterday. Prosecutor Tom Gilbert said Driver abused one of his victims every second weekend for the past seven years, since the boy was 10 years old, paying him small amounts of money, up to $20 after most incidents. He also photographed the boy, collecting 114 mostly naked images of him, often with small model cars and model trains nearby. Driver added these to a collection of child pornography that numbered more than 2000 images. Mr Gilbert told the court Driver had admitted he had always known he was a paedophile.
"This is predatory offending by an old man on very young boys." Driver's lawyer Louise Sziranyi asked the court to consider his age, early guilty plea, his lack of criminal convictions, and his remorse as mitigating factors. Judge Peter Butler was dismissive of Driver's claim that one of his victims had initiated the sexual contact. He said Driver, who had been married 43 years and had three children and six grandchildren, had caused his victims significant harm and was considered at high risk of reoffending.
He told Driver not to approach his first parole hearing with confidence. Police believe Driver and Upchurch may have had more victims, and Ms Penny urged anyone with more information to speak to police.
Dominion Post 16th November 2007
A 73-year-old Wellington man who sexually assaulted boys over a period of nearly ten years was today jailed for seven years.
Jeffrey Joseph Driver appeared in Wellington District Court after having previously plead guilty to ten charges, including five counts of indecent assault of a person aged between 12 and 16 and one charge of indecent assault on a person under 12. Crown prosecutor Tom Gilbert told the court today Driver had used his position of authority at a model railway club to gain the trust of young members.
Mr Gilbert said Driver had sexually assaulted three junior members of the club, the first in 1998 and the last in May this year. Driver was also sentenced for making objectionable material, after police seized his computer and found naked photos he had taken of one of his victims. Judge Peter Butler said Driver had caused his victims significant harm and was considered at high risk for reoffending. He told Driver not to approach his first parole hearing with confidence.
