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Offender Databases Neil Tennant

Neil Stephen Tennant

Alias

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Offences

Unlawful sexual connection (x2) and indecent assault (x9) on two Wellington boys aged 12-14 in 1990

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1952

Current Location

unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Was sentenced to 4 years in December 1997

Background
From the Evening Post 1st December 1997
A Highbury man has been sentenced to four years jail for sexually abusing two adolescent boys more than seven years ago. Judge Andrew Becroft in the Wellington District Court on Friday sentenced Neil Stephen Tennant to four years jail on two charges of unlawful sexual violation by sexual connection and two years for nine charges of indecent assault. The terms are to be served concurrently. Tennant, 45, film technician, of Highbury, had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Judge Becroft said the boys were aged between 12 and 14 at the time. They lived in the same neighbourhood as Tennant. He said a hut Tennant had built on his property became a gathering place for the boys and their friends. The judge said in both cases the offending began as touching, then masturbation, watching pornographic videos and on to oral sex.

"The victim impact reports would bring tears to a stone. It had life changing consequences. The effects on them was serious and long lasting," the judge said. Tennant had in all other respects led an exemplary life, with work colleagues who spoke well of him and a mother who loved him. Judge Becroft said it Tennant had not offended since, and it appeared he had put that chapter of his life behind him.

He refused to suppress Tennant's name. Defence counsel Mike Antunovic said Tennant knew the offences involved a serious breach of trust. He said a report from a forensic psychiatrist said Tennant was socially and sexually immature at the time of the offences. "Tennant accepts that he was adult and they were young boys. He knew it was wrong." He said the report said Tennant had never been sexually intimate with anyone before. The offending began at the same time as the death of his father, with whom he had been very close.

"A sentence of imprisonment is not necessary to prevent Tennant from offending again. The court could consider a suspended prison sentence." He asked for Tennant's name to be permanently suppressed. Crown counsel Peter Hobbs said Tennant knew he was doing wrong as an adult abusing young boys. He said a suspended sentence would be an inadequate response from the court to the offending. The victims wanted Tennant's name released.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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