Photo: ODT filesA Mosgiel man who believed he was sexually grooming a 14-year-old girl online has been sentenced to five months’ home detention. It came just six months after the defendant was acquitted at trial on two charges of rape and six of indecent assault. A jury unanimously found him not guilty over allegations he had abused a similarly young girl over 18 months. It would be good to have some company if she came to Dunedin, Smith later told her during their frequent communication online. The police officer operating the account told Smith she was coming south to visit her father and the defendant soon set about persuading her they should meet.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 11, 2020 22:41 UTC