9 May 2014

Hawke's Bay officer on sex charges

6:41 pm on 9 May 2014

A judge has reserved his decision in the case of a Hawke's Bay policeman accused of indecently assaulting five young women.

The officer has admitted intimately touching a 16-year-old while he was off-duty but says it was with her consent.

The Flaxmere constable, Adam Dunnett, denied nine charges, involving five teenagers, at the Ocean Beach Surf Club and Taradale Fire Station in 2011 and 2012.

The 37-year-old admitted sexual contact with one teenager on Christmas Eve 2011 at the surf lifesaving club but claimed it was consensual. He also admitted buying alcohol for her.

One indecent assault charge was dropped this week, after the complainant failed to give evidence in the Napier District Court.

Judge Les Atkins reserved his decision for three weeks' time, expected to be 30 May.