A New Zealand court last Tuesday 2 October sentenced former professional rugby player and Tongan prospect, Dylan Halaholo, to nine months’ home detention after he was convicted of committing indecent acts of public masturbation on three separate occasions this year. The 23-year-old was last year convicted of the same indecent acts and was put under intensive supervision.

According to prosecutors, Dylan parked his vehicle near schools in Auckland and masturbated while young children walked past. In one of the incidents two young girls noticed Dylan as they were walking home from school.

Judge Eddie Paul of the Auckland District Court stated, “You parked on a public road so your car was facing a primary school…the two female children were shocked by observing your actions and ran off."

The following day, Dylan parked in front of another school where he watched a video on his phone and was noticed again by two young students.

"You wound down your window, you were naked from the waist down," Judge Paul stated.

Dylan was a talented front rower and played for the Southland Stags in New Zealand’s top provincial tournament. His impressive resume made him a prime Super Rugby and ‘Ikale Tahi prospect. However, Dylan’s ambitions came to a halt in 2016 last year when he was seen by children masturbating in his vehicle in a supermarket parking lot. He was convicted for the offences and sentenced to 18 months’ supervision.

Dylan had received counselling following his first convictions last year. His lawyer at the time told local media that "He had come a long way ... in terms of dealing with these things because they are extremely embarrassing and confusing for him and he has had to deal with that."