Entertainer's identity forever secret

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The identity of a top NZ entertainer who admitted an indecent act will forever remain a secret after he was granted permanent name suppression.

In the Auckland District Court this afternoon, Judge Eddy Paul granted the man a discharge without conviction after he pled guilty to a charge of an indecent act likely to offend.

The man entered the plea in August but all details, including the charge, were suppressed until yesterday.

Judge Paul said the man had been walking down Wellington’s Courtenay Place at 3.30am on March 5.

He had been approached by three females who recognised him.

Two of the girls asked him for a kiss and gave him a kiss on each cheek.

Crude propositions were then exchanged.

Two of the girls then walked down an alleyway with the man where he undid his pants and pulled out his penis.

A third girl then approached the man from behind.

“He grabbed hold of her [and] forced her head into his crotch ."

The woman later laid a complaint with police.

The entertainer's lawyer Ron Mansfield said his client had little recollection of events.

While the intention in going down the alleyway had been "to pursue a consensual relationship, albeit a limited one," the entertainer had believed at the time the activity was agreed, Mr Mansfield said.

The entertainer has no previous convictions, had written a letter to the victim, would pay her $5000 for "emotional harm" and had offered to hold a restorative justice meeting with her, Mr Mansfield said.

The court was told she had rejected the meeting.

Media applications to photograph and film the man were denied after Mr Mansfield argued his appearance in the dock "was a particularly stressful event".

Mr Mansfield said "he should be entitled to be sentenced as most others in the community would."

Judge Paul ordered the man to pay $5000 reparations for emotional harm to the girl as well as $130 court costs.

- © Fairfax NZ News