UPDATE: On STUFF so must be true! Nasty Rumour Doing the Rounds

[Chief Stipe]

Mmmm a rumour is circulating about a Trainer based at Woodend.  I've been sent the identity of who is the subject of the rumour but won't be publishing it.

Of course Archie Butterfly @Archie Butterfly is in boots and all.

 

[Chief Stipe]

 

Horse trainer and driver allegedly sexually abused young woman

Blair Ensor15:56, May 20 2022

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

 

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

A horse trainer and a driver are due to appear in court next week facing sex charges. (File photo)

A horse trainer and a driver allegedly sexually abused a woman during last year's New Zealand Cup and Show week in Canterbury.

It comes as a police officer says more needs to be done to stop a small group of trainers from exploiting a power imbalance that exists in the industry.

A 25-year-old trainer has been charged with indecent assault and aggravated assault, while a 29-year-old driver has been charged with indecent assault.

It’s understood the charges relate to an incident that happened at a private training stables in November last year.

 

Detective Sergeant Daniel Isherwood said the two men were arrested this week and would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.

He declined to comment further about the case while it was before the courts.

However, speaking generally, Isherwood said it was clear from his inquiries and observations that the harness racing industry had a problem it needed to address.

“A lack of employment contracts, coupled with young women who are motivated to progress their careers has unfortunately created an environment a small number of trainers have chosen to exploit.

“Trainers are in a position of power and really need to take a hard look at what they are doing to ensure a safe work place.”

Harness Racing New Zealand chief executive Gary Woodham could not be reached for comment.

nken crash

 

[Newmarket]

6 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

 

Horse trainer and driver allegedly sexually abused young woman

Blair Ensor15:56, May 20 2022

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

 

ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

A horse trainer and a driver are due to appear in court next week facing sex charges. (File photo)

A horse trainer and a driver allegedly sexually abused a woman during last year's New Zealand Cup and Show week in Canterbury.

It comes as a police officer says more needs to be done to stop a small group of trainers from exploiting a power imbalance that exists in the industry.

A 25-year-old trainer has been charged with indecent assault and aggravated assault, while a 29-year-old driver has been charged with indecent assault.

It’s understood the charges relate to an incident that happened at a private training stables in November last year.

 

Detective Sergeant Daniel Isherwood said the two men were arrested this week and would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.

He declined to comment further about the case while it was before the courts.

However, speaking generally, Isherwood said it was clear from his inquiries and observations that the harness racing industry had a problem it needed to address.

“A lack of employment contracts, coupled with young women who are motivated to progress their careers has unfortunately created an environment a small number of trainers have chosen to exploit.

“Trainers are in a position of power and really need to take a hard look at what they are doing to ensure a safe work place.”

Harness Racing New Zealand chief executive Gary Woodham could not be reached for comment.

nken crash

 

A 25yo trainer? One can only guess.

[Chief Stipe]

Doesn't this have an INCA modus operandi feel about it?

Retired ex-cop "Bob" still trying to score a goal directly related to his new job, pursues every avenue to get "something".

Lo and behold 6 months after an alleged offence occurs charges arise unrelated to "Bob's" job.

Just so happens to coincide with belated progress on another matter.

Inspector Dan at the "real cops" then makes an ill advised political statement to the media.  Was it Inspector Dan's role to comment on employment contracts?  What does that have to do with the charges laid?

Is that observation by Inspector Dan really a HRNZ problem?

Is Dan applying for a RIB job?  Are we seeing the RIB under its new ex-cop leadership venturing too far into industry policy matters instead of resolving its own staffing issues and focusing on what they are tasked to do?

Meanwhile we will see again the chorus of the disgruntled chirping away behind private social media walls and feeding the journalists.

[LongOwner]

The righteous cop statement, taking the moral high ground,  is way outside the RIU and NZPolice terms of reference .

Maybe they should look at the Police Club/Bar, every law office , Govt Dept which I understand Treasury is famous for etc and stop this anti harness racing crusade .

If there is something fine charge them but the speech from the  Altar is an over reach and not necessary.

RIU and police is not the moral compass for the sport.

[Chief Stipe]

Horse trainer who allegedly sexually abused a young woman appears in court

 

25/05/2022

 

 

A 25-year-old horse trainer and a 29-year-old driver appeared in court on Wednesday jointly charged with the indecent assault of a young woman during New Zealand Cup and Show week in November. 

Horse trainer who allegedly sexually abused a young woman appears in court

 

A horse trainer who allegedly sexually abused a woman during last year's New Zealand Cup and Show week in Canterbury will keep his name secret for now.

 

The 25-year-old appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday charged with indecently assaulting a young woman. He is jointly charged with a 29-year-old harness racing driver.

 

The 25-year-old faces six charges: aggravated assault, assault, dishonestly acquiring a vehicle, and three counts of indecent assault.

 

It is understood the charges relate to an incident that happened at a private training stables in November last year.

The 25-year-old’s duty lawyer, Sabrina Forrester, requested interim name suppression and a three-week remand so the man could seek his own private representation. Police opposed name suppression.

Judge Brian Callaghan granted interim name suppression and remanded the man on bail to June 15.

 

The horse trainer’s bail conditions included that he must not contact any witnesses outside work hours or discuss the case with them at any time.

The 29-year-old man has had his case transferred to the Invercargill District Court.

A police officer earlier said more needed to be done to stop a small group of trainers from exploiting a power imbalance that existed in the industry.

 

Speaking generally, Detective Sergeant Daniel Isherwood said it was clear from his inquiries and observations that the harness racing industry had a problem it needed to address.

“A lack of employment contracts, coupled with young women who are motivated to progress their careers has unfortunately created an environment a small number of trainers have chosen to exploit.

 

“Trainers are in a position of power and really need to take a hard look at what they are doing to ensure a safe workplace.”

[Chief Stipe]

Well it doesn't take a Private Detective to join the dots.

No names please posters.

Some protagonists are calling for those involved to be stood down immediately.  HRNZ will be hesitant to do that given the precedent set during the INCA debacle.

[Ludwig]

3 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Well it doesn't take a Private Detective to join the dots.

No names please posters.

Some protagonists are calling for those involved to be stood down immediately.  HRNZ will be hesitant to do that given the precedent set during the INCA debacle.

My immediate response is to feel some sympathy for those drivers/ trainers etc who are not involved in any way, but who get tarred with the same brush. Must be hard for them and their families.

[Chief Stipe]

26 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

My immediate response is to feel some sympathy for those drivers/ trainers etc who are not involved in any way, but who get tarred with the same brush. Must be hard for them and their families.

I doubt that that is a problem for those that haven't been charged.  

I'm sure the jungle drums have done their work within the industry and the wider community in the locations named.

It just has that INCA stink about it where the modus operandi is "if we (RIB) can't get you on what we are are tasked with policing then we'll get you some other way".

[Ludwig]

29 minutes ago, Ludwig said:

My immediate response is to feel some sympathy for those drivers/ trainers etc who are not involved in any way, but who get tarred with the same brush. Must be hard for them and their families.

And obviously, I hope the victim in this case in being supported and cared for.

[Brodie]

Personally believe the comment from the Detective Sergeant is such a stupid comment!
“Trainers are in a position of power and really need to take a hard  look at what they are doing to ensure a safe workplace”

Where on earth did this BS come from????

What has this specifically got to do with harness trainers???
How have they  got all this power over employees any different to other vocations?????

This seems to be an isolated case as I havent heard of all these harness trainers taking advantage sexually of its employees before???
Harness once again is being victimised in the media and it is high time that the participants stand up to these bullies.

No I do not condone any ill doing, but FFS this Detective Sergeant should not be spurting out BS!

 

 

 

[the galah]

On 26/05/2022 at 12:19 PM, Ludwig said:

And obviously, I hope the victim in this case in being supported and cared for.

so the case finally came to an end with the sentencing last week of the trainer/driver concerned.

The wheels of justice turn slowly. 

for the person convicted,its been reported 3 months community detention,1 years supervision and a $5000 payment to the victim.

Sounds like the accused person should never drink alcohol . Of course by the time you get to his age ,you would already know how alcohol effects your behavior,so he had real excuse for how he treated the victim. 

i suppose the light sentence is an indication that the judge doesn't view the case as very serious and has factored in the accused circumstances as much as the victims. Thats despite the victims mother reportedly saying the incidents and the subsequent emotional harm to her daughter had been significant.

If your were the accused you may think the sentence fair,if you were the victim you would no doubt lose  faith in the abilty of the justice system to make people truly accountable for their actions. 

i have always understood community detention means you simply have to be somewhere you say you will be and that is approved.Like having a curfew,but still being able to work. Obviously the supervision part really means very little. Most likely all he would have to do is turn up to a meeting with his supervisor, mayber monthly and keep them informed where they will be driving and working. Maybe the supervisor could get a tip or two.

Anyways,i'm a no way diminishing what the offender did,simply pointing out the sentence imposed for his actions in the court really are just minor.

Its the damage to his reputation which no doubt will be weighing most heavily on his mind.

The trainers friend ,who seemingly enabled and helped facilitate the offences got off with a discharge without conviction and a $1500 payment to the victim.

It does make you wonder,seemingly from the reporting,2 other males were there when the offences occured and did nothing to help the victim and allowed,someone who they called their friend,to engage in activity that compromised the victim(and also compromised the accused as well).

who would ever want friends like that.

The victim showed a great deal of courage to stand up for whats right.

So what know.

how come neither the stuff news article or the harnesslink article even bothered to ask HRNZ for comment.

Thats very poor reporting from those people.

And HRNZ themselves seem to never front foot things like this.

They must have known of the case.

Why haven't they commented and why haven't they advised the public  of what action they intend to take.

If they are to say,well we had to wait until the sentencing,well thats just a cop out as they should have had prepared responses to the possible differing sentencing outcomes,but also obviously the sentencehanded down was entirely predictable you would have thought.

so what are HRNZ going to do?

the code of conduct must apply.

Anyone who bothers to read the peter profit headlines would know who the high profile person convicted is.even the article earlier on this thread gaves a major clue as to who it is. So the interim name suppression seems a bit pointless to me,but thats how the courts processes work i suppose.

Edited Monday at 04:03 AM by the galah

[the galah]

7 minutes ago, the galah said:

so he had real excuse for how he treated the victim. 

 

oops,i obviouly meant to say ...   he had NO !!!!!    excuse for how he treated the victim.  

[Newmarket]

13 hours ago, the galah said:

so the case finally came to an end with the sentencing last week of the trainer/driver concerned.

The wheels of justice turn slowly. 

for the person convicted,its been reported 3 months community detention,1 years supervision and a $5000 payment to the victim.

Sounds like the accused person should never drink alcohol . Of course by the time you get to his age ,you would already know how alcohol effects your behavior,so he had real excuse for how he treated the victim. 

i suppose the light sentence is an indication that the judge doesn't view the case as very serious and has factored in the accused circumstances as much as the victims. Thats despite the victims mother reportedly saying the incidents and the subsequent emotional harm to her daughter had been significant.

If your were the accused you may think the sentence fair,if you were the victim you would no doubt lose  faith in the abilty of the justice system to make people truly accountable for their actions. 

i have always understood community detention means you simply have to be somewhere you say you will be and that is approved.Like having a curfew,but still being able to work. Obviously the supervision part really means very little. Most likely all he would have to do is turn up to a meeting with his supervisor, mayber monthly and keep them informed where they will be driving and working. Maybe the supervisor could get a tip or two.

Anyways,i'm a no way diminishing what the offender did,simply pointing out the sentence imposed for his actions in the court really are just minor.

Its the damage to his reputation which no doubt will be weighing most heavily on his mind.

The trainers friend ,who seemingly enabled and helped facilitate the offences got off with a discharge without conviction and a $1500 payment to the victim.

It does make you wonder,seemingly from the reporting,2 other males were there when the offences occured and did nothing to help the victim and allowed,someone who they called their friend,to engage in activity that compromised the victim(and also compromised the accused as well).

who would ever want friends like that.

The victim showed a great deal of courage to stand up for whats right.

So what know.

how come neither the stuff news article or the harnesslink article even bothered to ask HRNZ for comment.

Thats very poor reporting from those people.

And HRNZ themselves seem to never front foot things like this.

They must have known of the case.

Why haven't they commented and why haven't they advised the public  of what action they intend to take.

If they are to say,well we had to wait until the sentencing,well thats just a cop out as they should have had prepared responses to the possible differing sentencing outcomes,but also obviously the sentencehanded down was entirely predictable you would have thought.

so what are HRNZ going to do?

the code of conduct must apply.

Anyone who bothers to read the peter profit headlines would know who the high profile person convicted is.even the article earlier on this thread gaves a major clue as to who it is. So the interim name suppression seems a bit pointless to me,but thats how the courts processes work i suppose.

Really….

I couldn’t give a shit about the future of these guys….strange you didn’t say anything about the young lady…. was excited to be in her dream job, but these louts put paid to that. Well done her for going to police, be many other woman in the industry that have had same situation. They should come out and complain, as this has been going on for many years. Sadly, even if the girl wanted to be employed in the industry, I would say she would struggled to be employed…. it’s a close family. 
 

Obviously you are or have been involved in harness Galah…. which shows

[the galah]

2 hours ago, Newmarket said:

Really….

I couldn’t give a shit about the future of these guys….strange you didn’t say anything about the young lady…. was excited to be in her dream job, but these louts put paid to that. Well done her for going to police, be many other woman in the industry that have had same situation. They should come out and complain, as this has been going on for many years. Sadly, even if the girl wanted to be employed in the industry, I would say she would struggled to be employed…. it’s a close family. 
 

Obviously you are or have been involved in harness Galah…. which shows

seems you have misinterpreted what i said.

Maybe you should read what i have said again.

you say i said nothing about the young lady. Well i did,calling her courageous and standing up for doing the right thing and i commented on her mothers comments of the significant emotional harm.her daughter suffered.

i even said HRNZ should have already had the riu lay charges against both,the day of their being found guilty,irrespective of the level of involvement,for breach of the code of conduct and hrnz shpuld have announced that,if hrnz intent was to be viewed seriously..

the reason i said that was because its obvious from the mothers comments that she feels her daughter was let down by not only the individuals involved,but also the lack of support she perceived she received from those within the industry, and that obviously reflects poorly on hrnz leadership.

I have my own perspective about people who behave like the main offender did,that is if they behave like that when they are 25 then that really will always be prt of who they are.the only way they can avoid repetitive destructive behvior is for thwem to avoid the things that trigger such behavior,e.g. alcohol. offenders like that,from m y observations ,do learn from things like that,but learning and changing is 2 totally different things. They also learn how to avoid or hide such behavior.

But all that is not really why i commented.

I commented ,because to me,,theres something broken in the industry if the victim feels she can't pursue her dream job and if the perpetrators actions are not properly admonshed by those whose job it is to do so and those its job it is to set ajnd standards.

so anyway newmarket,your have your opinion,i have mine,but they aren't that much different.

Edited Monday at 08:04 PM by the galah