Gardener with mother issues sexted 88-year-old

Otago Daily Times

16-05-2025

A Dunedin gardener who sent raunchy messages to an octogenarian says he did it because she reminded him of his dead mother.
Geoffrey Lyn Sinha, 50, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday for what Judge Michael Turner called "the most troubling case".
"This man seems to want to sleep with a mother figure ... when you look at all the various comments he's made," the judge said.
"I'm concerned about the risk this man poses to vulnerable members of the community."
Sinha previously pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching the Harmful Digital Communications Act and was scheduled to apply for a discharge without conviction yesterday.
Counsel Karlena Lawrence, however, indicated that would not be pursued.
Judge Turner duly convicted Sinha of the charge but refused to sentence him because of a dearth of information.
The court, he ruled, needed an "in-depth" psychological or psychiatric analysis of the defendant to determine how best to proceed.
Sinha set up a gardening business in 2023 and began working for the 88-year-old victim the following year.
At one point he sent her a photo of a woman dressed in "clothing associated with royalty" but later apologised and the victim shrugged it off.
Later, however, his communications took on a lewd tone.
"I want to lie with you," one of the tamer messages said.
He also sent the victim a 39-second video of himself naked on his couch, performing an erotic act.
The victim felt "disrespected, scared and completely shocked", according to court documents.
While Sinha's crime was unusual, it was his variety of explanations that confounded the judge.
Initially, he told police he simply misread the situation.
"What situation was there to misread?" Judge Turner asked.
The pair had previously exchanged pleasantries and shared a cup of tea but there had been nothing to hint at an intimate connection.
Later, Sinha said the victim had a connection to his dead mother — who would have been the same age, and had worked in the same field — and "it all became distorted".
His devotion to his mother Glennis was so strong that he had recently changed his name to "Glen", the court heard.
When pressed by Probation to elaborate on his thinking, the defendant struggled to provide any clarity.
"Your guess is as good as mine," he said.
Sinha blamed his pursuit of the woman nearly 40 years his senior on his use of alcohol, medicinal cannabis and several months of watching pornography.
He also cited recently turning 50 as well as his deteriorating relationship with his children as reasons behind his odd behaviour.
In an affidavit before the court, Sinha said he had been sentenced to three years' hard labour (suspended) for drug importation in 2016 when he lived in Japan.
He wrote that he had been to Europe to organise a conference when he stopped in Amsterdam on the way home, attempting to smuggle hashish into his adopted homeland.
Sinha said he was having marital problems at the time.
"His response to personal crises is to commit offences," Judge Turner said.
"I think the court needs far more information about this man before anything can be done."
Sinha was remanded on bail until sentencing in July.
He continued to advertise his gardening services around Otago on social media as recently as March and told the Otago Daily Times yesterday's hearing was "a positive result".
He hung up the phone when asked for further comment.
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