A pensioner, crippled with arthritis and stooped over his walker, had to be helped by Corrections staff out of a courtroom today to begin a jail sentence for sexually abusing a teenager 50 years his junior.

George Lazaridis sat slumped on the seat of the blue aluminium-framed walker in the dock at the Wellington District Court, listening through headphones as Judge Bruce Davidson sentenced him for a raft of sexual offending against a teenage boy.

The court heard the now 73-year-old, who continues to pose a risk to children, began a “paternalistic relationship” with the teenager after Lazaridis moved into his neighbourhood.

Lazaridis, the judge noted, “filled a void” in the young man’s life, providing the teenager with cash, food and cigarettes in exchange for helping with some chores.

A sexual attraction developed that ranged from low-level touching to mutual oral sex and continued for three years at the pensioner’s house and in his car.

“My impression is he was a vulnerable young man, looking for comfort,” Judge Davidson told the court, having presided over the judge-alone trial last year.

The judge also noted the obvious elements of grooming.

“There can be no doubt in my view that your gifts for the victim were held out in exchange for sexual return,” he said.

His victim, who finally disclosed the offending to a family member in 2022, suffered poor mental health, was impacted emotionally and psychologically, and, as an adult, had struggled with relationships, the court heard.

After the disclosure, police interviewed Lazaridis first in 2022 and again in 2024.

In 2023, during a search of Lazaridis’ house, his computer was seized and found to contain objectionable publications, some of the most serious kind.

Lazaridis was found guilty at trial of four charges of unlawful sexual connection and six charges of committing an indecent act.

He also admitted three charges of possession of an objectionable publication, relating to the material found on his computer.

Identifying the aggravating features, the judge referred to the victim’s age and the age difference between the pair, noting Lazaridis had breached the teenager’s trust.

“What marks this sexual offending is its ongoing and repeated nature over three years, with the associated breach of trust with a teenager who was 50 years younger than you,” he said.

In mitigation, the judge noted Lazaridis hadn’t offended since immigrating from Eastern Europe, a period of 60 years.

Today’s hearing considered how to deal with Lazaridis’ health issues, including arthritis and a breathing machine he used at night. He also required help with showering.

The court heard an electronically monitored sentence was problematic because Lazaridis still posed a risk to children, and swelling in his lower legs made it impossible to wear a bracelet.

Crown prosecutor Tamara Jenkin told the court Lazaridis’ health needs could be accommodated in the prison’s high dependency unit.

Defence lawyer Sonia Thistoll said Corrections had told her the unit had a long waiting list, with no guarantees her client would be admitted to it.

Judge Davidson said while Lazaridis’ health problems could be managed within prison, he acknowledged that, given the defendant’s health and age, prison would be harsh for him.

Wellington District court heard an electronically monitored sentence was problematic because George Lazaridis still posed a risk to children. Photo / NZME

Adopting the Crown’s suggested starting point of five and a half years, slightly higher than what the defence had sought, the judge jailed Lazaridis for four years and three months, having applied discounts for his guilty pleas to the possession of objectionable publication charges, previous good character and the impact of prison on the pensioner.

After the sentence was handed down, Lazaridis stood and glared at the judge before being helped from the court.

MALE SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS

Where to get help:
If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
• If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline Safe to Talk on 0800 044 334 or text 4334. (available 24/7)
• Male Survivors Aotearoa offers a range of confidential support at centres across New Zealand - find your closest one here.
• Mosaic - Tiaki Tangata: 0800 94 22 94 (available 11am-8pm)
• Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.

Catherine Hutton is an Open Justice reporter, based in Wellington. She has worked as a journalist at the Waikato Times and RNZ. Most recently she was working as a media adviser at the Ministry of Justice.