Shane Christopher Jack, 38, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to inducing an indecent act.
The court heard the defendant had responded to an advertisement and arranged to meet a sex worker.
On October 30 about 11am, the defendant went to the 40-year-old Chinese woman’s address.
Jack claimed he was an immigration officer and demanded to see the woman’s passport, which caused the woman "some fright" because of her visa status.
The woman showed Jack her passport.
She spoke little English, but used props and hand gestures to suggest she was menstruating and could not have intercourse.
Jack demanded she perform a sex act on him and she did.
The defendant initially told police he paid the woman $60 for her services and denied saying he was an immigration officer.
But later, he accepted the facts as police alleged them.
The court heard the Probation officer writing the pre-sentence report had difficulty following what Jack was saying.
He talked about the Illuminati, grapevine conversations and sex rings.
Jack talked about hearing voices and said on this occasion the voice of an Irish man, who he believed was part of the Irish Republican Army, was telling him to induce the sex act.
Following the meeting, the defendant was assessed by a forensic nurse, who said he did not have a history of significant mental health issues but had PTSD symptoms.
Drug-induced psychosis had resulted in Jack being admitted to hospital before and he admitted heavily using cannabis in the community.
Judge Michael Turner noted the offending was not premeditated and there was no suggestion the defendant intended to exploit the woman before arriving at the address.
He said the victim was vulnerable and the defendant impersonated an immigration officer to intimidate her.
Probation proposed a release condition that Jack surrender his electronic devices to be inspected on request as it said he often searched for sex rings.
But Judge Turner did not think that was necessary.
"You hold unusual beliefs and it remains unclear to me if these are because of a mental health issue," the judge said.
"He’s entitled to go down rabbit holes if he likes. It’s not an offence in itself."
Judge Turner sentenced Jack to 13 months’ imprisonment.
Because of time spent in custody on remand, the defendant will be released from prison shortly.
