A prominent executive who admitted receiving commercial sex services from an underage girl bought her Uber Eats and a $200 gift card in exchange for intimate images before paying her $1000 cash for a sex act. 

“You’re 17, I can’t pay you for sex so, if anyone finds out, we wanted to have sex and I just gave you money,” court documents say the man told the girl. 

The businessman, according to an agreed summary of facts released by the court on Wednesday, met the 14-year-old in September this year via visual-messaging app Snapchat while presenting himself as a “sugar daddy”. 

Initially, he asked her to send him a photo and inquired how old she was. 

“In reply, the victim sent a photo of her face. Through their communication the victim had pretended to be 17 years of age,” the summary of facts said. 

The court document said she requested Uber Eats from the defendant, and he obliged under the proviso that she sent him images of an intimate nature. 

“The victim subsequently sent several intimate images and videos of herself to the defendant, resulting in the arrival of multiple Uber Eats [orders].” 

The exchange continued for approximately three weeks, with the Uber Eats deliveries coming from various outlets. 

Between September 3 and 17 this year, the girl sent the defendant 12 images and 19 short videos. 

“The images and videos are recorded in her bedroom or bathroom at her home and depict the victim naked or partially naked... sexually posing,” the summary of facts said. 

“These are sexualised images including a video of the victim wearing her school uniform.” 

After receiving most of the images, the executive used his credit card to buy a $200 gift card and sent it to the girl’s email. 

“On Sunday 21 September 2025 at 10.40am the defendant paid for an Uber to bring the victim to his house. Upon arrival the victim told the defendant she was 17 years old.” 

The summary of facts said that the defendant paid the victim $1000 cash and told her: 

“You’re 17 I can’t pay you for sex so if anyone finds out, we wanted to have sex and I just gave you money”. 

At the victim’s request, the defendant then paid for an Uber to bring one of the girl’s friends to his home, the summary said. 

“The victim’s friend is a 14-year-old girl and a witness in this matter. The victim and defendant went to the defendant’s bedroom where sexual activity occurred. A short while later the defendant paid for the victim and witness to Uber to a nearby shopping mall,” the summary of facts said. 

“The victim felt disgusted because of the interaction with the defendant.” 

In explanation, police said the defendant offered a prepared statement after speaking to a lawyer. 

“He stated it was his belief the victim was 17 years old, and he did not enter a contract for sex.” 

The pair were not known to each other before meeting on Snapchat. 

The man’s guilty plea and name suppression 

The man pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court earlier this month to one charge of receiving commercial sex services from a person who was under 18. 

His name is suppressed until his next hearing in March 2026. 

The charge he admitted carries a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment. 

After reports that the court heard that the man’s employer wished to be heard on suppression, a spokesperson for the company said it did not indicate that, nor plan to push for secrecy. 

The company earlier said it learnt of the case on the afternoon of his court appearance. 

The man is no longer employed by the company. 

The executive was also facing charges for grooming for sexual conduct and indecent communication. 

Those charges were withdrawn by prosecutors earlier this month. 

The man had been remanded on bail until his sentencing next year. 

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, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• Email [email protected]
• For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list.
• Contact HELP Auckland on 0800 623 1700
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it's not your fault.

Katie Harris is an Auckland-based journalist who covers issues such as sexual assault, workplace misconduct, media, crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2020.