Warning: This article deals with the sexual abuse of a boy and may be distressing to some readers.

A stranger used an imitation handgun to abduct a 12-year-old boy and force him into a public toilet, where he sexually abused him.

The boy feared being shot when the handgun was first pressed against his head, but escaped from the toilet when he worked out the weapon was possibly a fake.

He pulled free from the abuser's grip and reached for the toilet cubicle door.

"The victim unlocked the toilet door and pushed outwards with everything he had, and luckily, it opened," according to a police summary of facts in the case.

The sexual abuse happened in Havelock North on June 5 this year.

The man was arrested while travelling with his vehicle on the Bluebridge ferry from Wellington to Picton three days later.

The summary of facts said the attacker and his victim were not known to each other and had never had anything to do with each other before the incident.

The boy was waiting near the toilet block for his friends after school and was wearing his school uniform.

The abuser approached the victim from behind and said, "Excuse me".

As the boy turned to respond, he produced a handgun from the waistband of his trousers and pressed it against the boy's head.

He told the victim to get into the public toilet cubicle. The boy complied because he feared being shot.

The man abused the boy in the cubicle for about 20 to 30 seconds, and then took out a mobile phone to take a photograph.

As he did this, the boy saw a bullet drop from the gun, which had been placed on the basin.

Noting that the bullet had a black base and red tip, he gained the impression the firearm might be fake.

After the boy successfully got through the door, the man grabbed hold of his top and tried to pull him back into the cubicle.

The boy escaped, however, and seeing a friend, yelled at him to get away.

Upset and crying, the boy sought help from a male road worker who saw the offender rapidly walking away.

The worker went after the man but stopped when the boy mentioned he had a gun.

The road worker then called the police and waited with the boy until officers arrived.

The abductor was arrested while the ferry was still on the way to Picton and his vehicle and devices were seized.

Police have not found the weapon but when they searched the man's house, they found 30 red-and-black foam projectiles and a spare magazine.

These were consistent with an imitation firearm that is sold as a toy online.

The man pleaded guilty in the Hastings District Court last week to charges of abduction for sex, unlawful sexual connection with a male aged 12 to 16 and carrying an imitation firearm with intent to commit a crime.

He will be sentenced on December 1 and has name suppression until then.

Where to get help

  • Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357.
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
  • Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202.
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666.
  • Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
  • What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds.
  • Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
  • Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254.
  • Healthline: 0800 611 116.
  • Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155.
  • OUTLine: 0800 688 5463.

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Sexual Violence