John Tekuru, 20, has been sentenced to one month in prison after breaching his release conditions by visiting a playground and a school just days after being released for the attempted abduction of a toddler.
Tekuru was released from prison on March 10 after serving 12 months of a two-year sentence for abduction for sex with a girl under 12. However, he was returned to custody on March 17 after accused of violating the terms of his release.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At the Manukau District Court on Thursday, Tekuru pleaded guilty to the breaches. Judge Jonathan Moses stated that Tekuru had been fully inducted into his release conditions and confirmed his understanding of the consequences of non-compliance.
Court details revealed that electronic monitoring placed Tekuru in a playground just two days after his release, resulting in a written warning. On March 14, monitoring data further confirmed he entered the grounds of a school that shared an access way with an early childcare center.
Judge Moses sentenced Tekuru to one month of imprisonment, citing the defendant’s age, his guilty plea, and one prior conviction as factors in the sentencing. Tekuru has been in custody since March 17 and will be moved to an address organized by Corrections.
During the hearing, defense lawyer Gaye Gurnick apologized for Tekuru’s “awkward smile,” asserting that he accepts the necessity of complying with his conditions to avoid a cycle of incarceration.
Monitoring and Special Conditions
The case drew criticism from the Sensible Sentencing Trust, which urged the Department of Corrections to implement an Extended Supervision Order (ESO) or a Public Protection Order (PPO), claiming Tekuru was “bound to offend again.”
Corrections stated that while no application for an ESO or PPO had been made, Tekuru was subject to several strict special conditions upon his March release, including:
- GPS electronic monitoring and residence at an approved address.
- Prohibition from entering areas where children are likely to be present, such as schools and playgrounds, without written approval.
- No contact with the victim or children under 16 unless supervised by an “Approved Informed Adult.”
- Mandatory psychological, alcohol, and drug treatment.
- A prohibition on entering Rotorua without written approval.
Corrections noted that Public Protection Orders are reserved for very high-risk individuals with poor self-regulation and an intense urge to offend.
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