Children's Author Convicted After Assault | Wellington News

Wellington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 17, 2026 · 1m

A children’s author with Warren Buffett’s backing, Lucas Socrates, got himself in hot water after violently assaulting a 12-year-old—shoving him off his bike, smothering him with it, then later choking him to grab his phone. He pleaded guilty but appealed, claiming the conviction would ruin his teaching career and boat insurance. His lawyer blamed provocation from the kid filming him—but the High Court shot that down, noting he chased the boy and only stopped because bystanders intervened. The judge also dismissed his “consequences” argument, saying police vetting would expose any contact…