Man with fetish for toothless women guilty of assault

WELLINGTON

A New Zealand man with a fetish for "fat gummy ladies" who yanked women's teeth out with pliers during sex was found guilty Wednesday of assault and indecent assault.

In a case described as "bizarre" by prosecutors, a Wellington court heard six days of evidence about Philip Lyle Hansen's sexual habits and obsession with dentistry.

Four women gave evidence against him after he pleaded not guilty to 10 charges relating to incidents from 1988 to 2011.

He was convicted of five counts of assault and one of indecent assault, while the jury acquitted him on another four charges, including one of rape.

The court was told the 56-year-old was a domineering and controlling personality who preferred his women without teeth.

Prosecutors said more than 600 searches relating to dentistry and extracting teeth were found on his computer, including ones looking for "fat gummy ladies".

They said one women recounted how "during sex he suddenly got the pliers, she could hear her teeth cracking".

The same woman told how "during the night she woke up, he had her in a headlock with a rag over his hand and was trying to get her teeth".

Another told prosecutors she had gone into the back of Hansen's car to have sex with him when he produced pliers and pulled out six of her teeth with without anaesthetic.

The identity of Hansen's victims has been suppressed.

Summing up the case, judge Bruce Davidson told the jury that it was natural to feel sympathy for the women.

"Some of you may think the defendant presents as a bit of a sleazeball," he said, citing evidence Hansen had multiple relationships with women he met on the Internet at the same time.

But Davidson said emotion had to be set aside so the case could be decided on its merits.

The jury of nine men and three women took five hours to find Hansen guilty of six charges and not guilty of four.

He will be sentenced on June 19.