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Offender Databases Peter Wood

Peter Ernest Wood

Alias

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Offences

Indecent assault of an 11 year old Nelson boy in late 2007
Prior conviction for indecent assault of a 12 year old boy in 1999

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1942

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to two years in May 2006
Sentenced to 18 months in February 2008

Background
The Nelson Mail, February 29, 2008 A Nelson man who indecently assaulted a young boy has been sentenced to 18 months in jail - his second prison sentence for such offending.

Peter Ernest Wood, 66, was sentenced in the Nelson District Court yesterday , having previously been found guilty by a jury of two charges of indecently assaulting a boy aged under 12 in 2000.

In 2006, Wood was sentenced to two years in prison for indecently assaulting a 12-year-old boy in 1999.

Judge David McKegg said the victim of the latest offending was aged 11 at the time, and was staying with Wood while his parents were on holiday overseas. Wood took him to a place where he was working, grabbed the boy's hand and put it on his crotch, then put his hand on the boy's crotch for about 30 seconds. "You told him not to tell anyone,'' Judge McKegg said.

Wood repeated the offending a few days later at his home, and again told the boy not to tell anyone. The judge said the victim had never forgotten the incidents, and the "enormous breach of trust'' had affected the rest of his life, particularly with older people in positions of responsibility. "You bear the blame for that.''

Defence lawyer Steven Zindel said Wood still denied his guilt but had to respect the jury's decision. Mr Zindel said Wood had been a compliant remand prisoner, and had put himself into a self-imposed type of home detention. His family was ensuring that there were no young boys present around him without supervision.

Crown prosecutor Janine Bonifant said Wood breached his position of trust, and his lack of remorse and empathy put him at a high risk of reoffending. Judge McKegg said he had listened to Wood give evidence "on a number of occasions''. "There was an undoubted similarity between the evidence at those trials, and in none of them could I find any reason to believe you.''

The Nelson Mail, May 24, 2006
A 64-year-old Nelson man who indecently assaulted a boy in his care has been sent to prison for two years.

Peter Ernest Wood, retired, appeared in the Nelson District Court yesterday having previously been found guilty by a jury of indecently assaulting the 12- year-old boy. Judge David McKegg said the boy was in respite care at Wood's house briefly in 1999.

When Wood's wife and daughters went to town one day Wood and the boy both decided to stay home. Wood went into the boy's bedroom and got into bed with him, touching him indecently.

The boy got out of the bed, got dressed and ran away to a friend's house. Judge McKegg said the boy's account was one of several allegations made against Wood by three complainants. Wood was only found guilty of one charge. He said during two trials friends and acquaintances gave evidence of Wood's good character.

"You were regarded as a person to whom one could turn,'' Judge McKegg told Wood. "But you breached a trust that you had to that young boy in a way both serious and gross.'' He said the indecent assault had elements of planning and was only interrupted because the boy escaped. Wood continued to deny the offence, Judge McKegg said. He said that in his current state of health prison would have a heavy impact on Wood. He granted him leave to apply for home detention.

Counsel Steve Zindel said Wood had to go through two trials and an aborted start for one of the trials. He faced 14 counts but only one was proved against him. After 1999 Wood and his family took no more children into their care, Mr Zindel said.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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