GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - While convicted George dentist Ian Venter's three-year prison sentence for sex crimes against a child has been labelled as lenient by anti-child abuse groups, Plettenberg Bay's Green Hearts said they believe the sentence reflects the court's consideration of the man's own children – something "their breadwinner did not provide".

Almost four years since his arrest over sex crimes against a child, the well-known dentist was finally sentenced on 28 February.

The father of three was sentenced to three years behind bars in the George Circuit High Court for "unlawfully and intentionally" violating a 12-year-old boy by asking him to touch his genitals.

Second conviction
This after Venter was convicted last year of sexually assaulting a boy during a sleepover at his Herolds Bay home in 2015.

He was arrested by the George family violence and sexual offences unit and according to police was accused of going into the room where the boy was sleeping, pulling the child's pants down and touching his private parts. The boy was visiting Venter's son at the time of the incident.

Just months earlier, Venter was sentenced to four years' house arrest following his conviction on several charges including sex with a minor boy.

Immediately after sentencing, Venter brought an application to appeal his sentence but this was denied by Magistrate Francis Makamandela.

Activists 'disappointed'
The Green Hearts spokesperson Janet Harding said the organisation is "somewhat disappointed" with the sentence handed down to this multiple sex offender".

"This case was plagued by postponements and delays while the magistrate waited patiently for the defence to play their entire hand of cards before handing out her meticulous and thorough sentence," she said.

Harding added that under Section 28 of the Constitution, the rights of all children are enshrined. "It seems Venter never considered the effect of his behaviour on his own three children who have had to deal with numerous challenges over the past few years including the untimely death of their mother, their father's first conviction and now his incarceration. Two of these children are minors who have relied totally on their father for support while the eldest is a law student at Stellenbosch University," she said.

'Admirable judgement'
"The only time Venter appears to have considered the wellbeing of his children was during his defence arguments as he used them as leverage to avoid a prison sentence. We have the utmost empathy for the victims in both cases and their families who have had to face enormous challenges since these incidents occurred. The magistrate considered all the children in her judgement and sentence and not only the victim which, we believe, displays a maturity and compassion which should be admired."

Harding said Venter's minor children had received the consideration from the court "that their breadwinner did not provide". "Although his incarceration seems lenient, we must endorse the magistrate's fairness to all concerned in this case," she said.

Venter has to appear in the Thembalethu Magistrate's Court again on 4 April for defying a court order that formed part of his first sentence, whereby he was ordered not to work with children, but it is believed he still treated children.

'Mockery of the system'
Women and Men Against Child Abuse Western Cape spokesperson Joanne Barrett said they are appalled by the three-year sentence. "Especially as this is his second offence," she said.

"Following his first conviction, he committed another sexual offence involving a child. We as an organisation feel he made a mockery of the justice system as well as showing absolutely no remorse for his shocking crime," Barrett said.

"While we are unhappy with the sentence term, we are content that direct imprisonment was enforced. Venter will be behind lock and key tonight and another child sexual abuser and predator is off our streets. There is some hope that our children are a little safer today," she said.

Read a related article: Paedophiles in the Garden Route

'We bring you the latest Garden Route news'