Five men have admitted to hiring a 13-year-old girl for sexual services, The New Zealand Herald reported, shedding light on a disturbing illegal prostitution ring operating in Rotorua.
The men who pleaded guilty are:
Shubham Choudhary (27) from Hamilton
Felise Falanai (31), a labourer from Rotorua
Nishanth Parakudiyil Prahladan (23) from Tauranga
Stephen James Philpott (42), a heavy tanker driver from Rotorua
Stephen Graham Shaw (70), a farmer from Ngakuru
Three other men have pleaded not guilty and will stand trial next year. Darby Bronson Whareaorere and another man, who also denied the charges, both died before their cases could go to trial. Two other men had their charges dropped.
Police dismantled the operation last year, which exploited teenage girls as young as 13.
The ring was led by Clayton Fox (49) from Rotorua, who has been sentenced to eight years and five months in prison. Fox faced 18 charges, including supplying drugs like methamphetamine and cannabis to teenagers and facilitating underage prostitution.
Fox’s former partner, Wikitoria Pepene (32), also from Rotorua, served three months in prison for her role in the illegal operation, including charges of running an unlawful prostitution business. She has since been released.
A summary of facts revealed to the Rotorua Daily Post says that the 13 year old presented herself as being 18 or 19, which was the age listed on the online profiles. Fox and Whareaorere, who denied his charges but died in custody, allegedly aided her involvement.
The five convicted men admitted to paying the teen girl for sexual services. According to court documents:
Choudhary contacted the girl online, arranging meetings in Rotorua and paying for services on multiple occasions.
Choudhary first contacted the teen on February 20 last year, requesting commercial sexual services, but she refused to meet with him.
On the evening of March 17, around 8pm, he messaged her via an online escort website and arranged to meet near Sala St in Rotorua.
They met around 9pm, and Choudhary engaged in commercial sexual services with the teen. Later that night, at midnight, he sent her a message calling her “Goddess.”
On April 6, Choudhary messaged her again, seeking further services, but she declined. He also asked her that day if he could buy her underwear and socks.
When arrested, Choudhary claimed to the police that the teen had told him she was 19, according to the summary.
Falanai also arranged a meeting through an escort website and received services in Rotorua. Upon learning her age later when the police revealed, he reportedly expressed disgust.
Falanai said: “You are f**king kidding me. I don’t know what to say to be honest. What do I say to that? I feel disgusted”, the summary said.
Prahladan travelled from Tauranga to Rotorua to meet the teen, paying $250. He later attempted to contact her repeatedly, even after she blocked him, and they exchanged numbers again. Between April 21, 2023 and September 15, 2023, Prahladan called the teen’s number 29 times.
Philpott met the girl at various Rotorua locations, paying between $300 and $600 for her services.
Shaw was introduced to the girl by Fox and paid for services at his caravan in Ngakuru.
The summary stated that Philpott told police he didn’t believe she was that young.
The five men who pleaded guilty are set to be sentenced at the Rotorua District Court on February 21.
Three men have denied the charges against them, with one also pleading not guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual connection with a young person. The three will have a callover on February 19, and a provisional trial date has been set for July 21.
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