Man guilty of sexual connection with minor

A 20-year-old has pleaded guilty to engaging in a sexual connection with a 14-year-old in Nelson District Court on Monday.

According to the police summary of facts, the victim met defendant Kameran Clarke through the social media app Snapchat.

On an unspecified date in April 2021, the victim was at home with a friend when she messaged Clarke via Snapchat. She asked for him to give her and her friend a ride to Tāhunanui.

The victim told Clarke that she would have sex with him if he picked them up.

Clarke agreed, picking up the girl and her friend before taking them to McDonalds Tāhunanui.

He dropped the victim's friend at the McDonalds and drove the 14-year-old back to his flat located a short distance away in Tāhunanui where the pair went inside.

Despite knowing the victim's age to be 14, Clarke proceeded to remove his clothes and, as the summary of facts describes, had sexual intercourse with the complainant.

Clarke admitted to police that he knew of the victim's age before the encounter.

He had asked the victim when she would be able to get her learners license, she responded that she could once she turned 16. According to police, Clarke was able to identify her current age as 14.

Legally, the sexual connection between an adult and a minor is only viewed as rape or statutory rape when the act is non-consensual, despite the age of consent in Aotearoa being 16.

According to the Crimes Act 1961 section 134 (1), anyone who has a sexual connection with a young person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

On Monday, Clarke’s defence lawyer John Sandston announced the defendant would not be seeking further name suppression.

Clarke will reappear for sentencing at Nelson District Court on September 15.