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Offender Databases Stephen Shone

Stephen Michael Shone

Alias

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Offences

Unlawful sexual connection (x5), indecent assault (x5) and performing indecent acts (x2), in respect of five Gisborne girls aged 13 to 16 from 2002 to 2007

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1978

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 8 years 6 months in October 2008
Later reduced to 7 years 6 months on appeal

Background
NZ Herald story here
Supreme Court decision here (PDF)
Stuff report 29th October 2008
Gisborne teacher and music tutor Stephen Shone has been sent to prison for 8 years 6 months for sex offences against five of his teenage pupils. Shone, 30, appeared for sentence in Gisborne District Court yesterday after having been convicted in August at a trial held in Napier. He was convicted on one charge of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, 10 charges of indecent assault, and one of unlawful sexual connection. Defence counsel Adam Simperingham said it was accepted Shone's conduct was inappropriate but he would be appealing the sentence on the basis it was "manifestly excessive".

The "complicity" of the complainants was another issue, he said. At sentencing, Judge Mike Behrens said he would find it difficult to "restrain myself" at any suggestion of proper consent being granted by the complainants. Mr Simperingham said Shone lacked remorse, which was a reflection of his personality. Shone was of good character, without previous convictions and his career was ruined by the prospect of years in prison, he said. Judge Behrens said Shone had been abusing girls for at least two years before he sexually violated a 14-year-old girl at his home for a a music lesson in November 2006.

Five counts of indecent assault against a 13-year-old girl were representative charges committed many times over six months, the judge said. Shone had exploited their age differences and breached her trust. "He told the complainant she was beautiful, that he loved her, that they could have a baby together and make music together." He also pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl but entered his guilty plea after the girl had given evidence.

Shone received concurrent sentences for other offences against three complainants, bringing the total to 8 year 6 months. Detective Sergeant Steve Smith, of Gisborne police, said the sentence was a good and fair one. Shone had shown no remorse and four of the five complainants had given evidence.

Wednesday, 27th August 2008
A Gisborne teacher accused of sexually abusing schoolgirls has pleaded guilty to 11 of the 16 charges against him in a sudden turn in his trial in Napier District Court. The admissions by 30-year-old Stephen Michael Shone came today late on the third afternoon of his trial involving allegations by five Gisborne girls, aged 13 to 16 years at the time offences are said to have been committed.

Shone, who is also a music tutor, had denied all of the charges but with four of the complainants having given evidence, he pleaded guilty to five of seven charges of indecent assault, three of four charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, both charges of performing indecent acts and one of two charges of having unlawful sexual connection. Crown prosecutors Steve Manning and Jo Rielly withdrew one charge of rape, one of sexual violation, one of indecent assault, and one of unlawful sexual connection. Offences with all four who had given evidence were admitted as the charges were read about 3.30pm, with Shone's mother present in the public gallery.

But the trial before Judge Mike Behrens QC and a jury of six men and six women will continue tomorrow, with Shone continuing to deny a single charge relating to the fifth complainant, alleging indecent assault. He claims there was no indecency with that girl, but with several of the charges laid as representative of multiple offences, Shone had conceded through defence counsel Adam Simperingham in opening addresses on Monday that there had been contact of a sexual nature with three of the girls.

Scenes where offences were said to have occurred included a motel unit while a complainant's mother was in another room, another motel when a complainant's parents were unaware she was with the teacher, a trusting family's holiday home, a classroom at Gisborne Intermediate School, and beachfront and lookout sites in Gisborne. Shone had exchanged more than 2000 text messages with one of the girls from when she was just 13 years old, many in the middle of the night, and most of a sexual or relationship nature. He had told one he liked her body, and wanted to marry her, so that they could have "beautiful musical children" together, the court was told.

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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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