A man who chased a schoolgirl through a park, and touched her inappropriately, had done the same to an elderly widow who was gardening just moments before

Praneel Chand appeared in Christchurch District Court last week, for sentencing on charges of assaulting a female and resisting police.

In a victim impact statement from the 71-year-old victim, she described feeling unsafe after the 2021 assault - and has been unable to garden since.

The court also heard from the schoolgirl's mother - who stated her daughter was now introverted and had issues with self-confidence.

Chand was sentenced to two years of intensive supervision and six months of community detention.