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Offender Databases Aran Hansen

Aran John Hansen

Alias

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Offences

Indecent assault of five Auckland girls between 14 and 16 in 2000
Also convicted on weapons, methamphetamine and cannabis charges, plus possession of objectionable material
Sexual violation and indecent assault of a retarded 14 year old Auckland girl from 1992 to 1996

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1961

Current Location

unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced for 2 years 9 months in November 1997
Sentenced to 18 months in December 2000
Released December 2001

Background
NZ Herald story here
From the Dominion 8th Nov 1997
Disgraced champion yachtsman Aran John Hansen was sentenced to jail for two years and nine months yesterday for sexually abusing a retarded under-age girl. Hanson, 36, drainlayer, was sentenced in the High Court at Auckland after earlier pleading guilty to four counts of indecent assault, and three of sexual violation. Hansen, whose yachting victories include three world titles and a part in Team New Zealand's successful America 's Cup campaign, at first denied the charges.

His lawyer, John Haigh, QC, said Hansen's sexual relationship with the girl began when she was 14 and continued till last year, when she turned 19. It was crucial for the court to distinguish between the morality of Hansen's actions and the criminality of his offending. Hansen had shown the girl pornographic pictures before persuading her to perform indecencies in 1992. Another indecent assault was made at the girl's home that year.

Mr Haigh said Hansen was "basically a very decent human being" who now acknowledged the girl's age and limited mental capacity made her unable to give informed consent.

Hansen's overwhelming obsession with pornography had led to his offending, which was discovered by the girl's family, Mr Haigh said. As a result his wife and son had left him, his home and business had been sold and he was in a poor financial position. Mr Haigh said Hansen's yachting career was over - "his name.... is just worthless at the moment".

Crown prosecutor Kieran Raftery said Hansen had corrupted the girl - who had a mental age of about nine - in a grave breach of trust. Justice Robertson, noting several letters of support for Hansen, including one from Team New Zealand boss Alan Sefton, told Hansen he was "extraordinarily fortunate" to have the understanding of so many people.

He sentenced Hansen to prison for two years nine months on each sexual violation charge, and a year for each indecent assault, to be served concurrently.

From the Evening Post 4th Dec 2000
A disgraced former Team New Zealand member has been jailed for a second time on sex charges involving teenage girls. Aran John Hansen, in Team New Zealand's successful America 's Cup challenge in 1995, was jailed for 18 months on Friday in Manukau District Court on sex and drugs charges.

Hansen has a long list of yachting victories including three world titles, and also hit the headlines when he helped rescue the crew of OneAustralia when their yacht sank off San Diego .

He was sentenced on five charges of inducing an indecent act, three of indecent assault, four of supplying cannabis, one of possessing cannabis, two of allowing methamphetamine to be used in his home, and one each of possessing objectionable material, and possessing a pistol and explosives. The offences, involving five girls between 14 and 16, were committed earlier this year just months after Hansen had completed a two-year stretch for the sexual violation and indecent assault of another underage girl.

Defence lawyer Stuart Grieve said Hansen, a drainlayer who was about to turn 40, admitted taking the girls to his East Tamaki home and giving them cannabis and cash in return for sex. But Mr Grieve told Judge Charles Blackie that the girls were prostitutes who had not suffered any emotional harm, and no breach of trust was involved. "Had these girls been over 16 then the sexual activity would not have been criminal at all and they would have been willing participants in it," Mr Grieve said.

The offences were reported only when two of the girls stole Hansen's car on September 15 and were later questioned by police. When his home was searched, police found a Colt 45 pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition which Hansen said he had for target practice. He was relieved the offences had come to light because he now had the opportunity to get help, Mr Grieve said. Judge Blackie told Hansen that his victims were young, gullible and naive girls, whose age meant they had special protection under the law.

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Corrections and Additional Information
We endeavour to make this database as accurate as possible, but we are at the mercy of whatever information we can find in various online and offline archives. We rely on the public - that is, people like you - to fill in the gaps that we cannot. If you wish to submit additional information or a correction to this file CLICK HERE . Privacy: Trust policy is that all sources are treated as strictly confidential unless we are explicitly told otherwise. If you wish to see a file removed from this database certain conditions must be met by the offender set out HERE Note that this does NOT apply for those that are the primary offender in a murder, rape, or any sexual offending involving minors. We do not enter into correspondence regarding the guilt/innocence of offenders. Such correspondence is not responded to, especially if the offender concerned has a number of prior convictions

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