Dentist gets three years behind bars for sexually assaulting young boy

Four years after his last court appearance, 47-year-old George dentist Ian Venter has finally been sentenced, reports George Herald.

He was found guilty of sexual assault of a minor on April 11 last year, after sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in 2015. The boy slept over at Venter’s house in Herolds Bay when he was assaulted, and ran home after the assault.

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Magistrate Francis Makamandela, who sentenced Venter to three years behind bars, said that during the judgment she took all factors into consideration and that jail time was the only fit punishment.

She also said that Venter’s previous sentence of correctional supervision did not have the desired result, as it was contravened.

Makamandela emphasised that the court must protect all children, including the victim, as well as the accused’s children. Immediately after the sentencing, Venter opposed the ruling, but Makamandela denied the appeal.

According to a reliable source, approximately 100 anti-depressants were found hidden in Venter’s socks during an inspection before he was led to his jail cell.

Venter was sentenced to four years of correctional supervision in November 2014. In September that year, he was found guilty of having sex with a 15-year-old boy in December 2011. The parents of the 2011 victim, from Pretoria, were regularly in court to follow the proceedings.

The first victim’s mother told George Herald: “The fact that he got three years in jail doesn’t make us feel better, but at least other children are safe. It doesn’t take away what he did and doesn’t take the pain away. There was never even an apology from him. It’s very difficult to accept something like this, and that is why I want to talk to the other victim’s mother. Maybe we could comfort each other.”

Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) spokesperson Joanne Barrett also voiced her dissatisfaction about the sentence.

“Although we are very shocked that the sentence is so short, especially considering that this was his second appearance, we are happy that he got a direct prison sentence.”

Joanne Barrett with two supporters, Anthony and Chantal Beaky, in front of the court after Venter was sentenced. Photo: Kristy Kolberg

Hankie Marx represented the state, and John Gillespie defended Venter during the proceedings.

One of the conditions of his correctional supervision sentence was that he is not allowed to treat children. In May 2017, however, he was arrested, after it came to light that he was still treating children at his practice.

He will appear in the Thembalethu Magistrate’s Court in April 4 for contempt of court.

This article was translated from Afrikaans by Nica Schreuder. 

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