Man who groped a police officer while leaving the party ‘badly affected’ by alcohol

A man who groped a police officer after being offered a ride home was “badly affected” by alcohol.

Tiaki Lambert, 20, of Levin, was drunk and refused to leave a home in Blenheim when the police were called around 2:30 a.m. on July 12 last year.

Police offered Lambert a ride home and they walked down the driveway, according to a police summary of the events.

Lambert then touched the policewoman from behind.

READ MORE:
* Police officer groped after offering to take drunk man home
* Six people charged after Easter lockdown violations in Marlborough

When the police spoke to him, he denied the assault.

Lambert pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault in Blenheim District Court in October.

He was found guilty and issued a First Strike Warning, which meant that repeat offenders of serious sexual or violent crimes would face stiffer penalties for second and third offenses.

In his sentencing Monday, Judge Tony Zohrab said Lambert was “severely affected” by alcohol at the time of the incident.

Through the restorative justice process, Lambert had accepted his responsibility.

The court heard that he had also been supported by his grandmother since the crime.

“You understand your behavior and the impact of your crime on the police officer,” said Judge Zohrab.

The police officer had accepted Lambert’s apology.

“It obviously doesn’t change what happened, but it helped her deal with this,” Judge Zohrab said.

Judge Zohrab said that in this circumstance prison would be counterproductive due to Lambert’s age and lack of a criminal record.

Lambert was sentenced to nine months of supervision and four months of community detention, with special conditions to attend any drug and alcohol counseling or any other counseling as directed by probation.

“You have to make sure this is your first and only criminal conviction,” Judge Zohrab said.

“You certainly don’t want to disappoint your grandmother again.”