Community service for man who indecently assaulted teenage girl

Monday 14 November 2016

A 22-year-old man has been given 120 hours community service for indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl on a night out.

Daniel Vlad admitted two charges of indecent assault, and was told by Magistrate Peter Harris that he had taken advantage of a "vulnerable" young girl.

The Magistrate's Court on Friday heard Prosecuting Advocate Darry Robinson said: "The defendant was with two male friends and the 17-year-old victim was accompanied by her friends. The victim was recognised by a friend of the defendant.

"She had been drinking since 9pm and she was intoxicated. At the back of McDonalds she was standing with her back to a wall when the three men surrounded her and her friends. 

"The defendant placed his hand around the victim's waist and she started to feel scared and awkward. The defendant touched her breasts over her clothing and she told the accused to stop and pushed him away.

"The victim felt him touch between her legs and he put one hand on the outside of the victim's knickers. The victim panicked and pushed the defendant away saying 'I told you to stop.'

"She walked to Halkett Street and began to cry and it is then that one of the victim's friends telephoned the police.

"In interview, the defendant admitted feeling her breasts but said it was not intentional and he denied touching her in the pubic region. When the DNA evidence was put before him he changed his position. The victim has found this all very distressing."

Defending Advocate Robin Leeuwenberg said: "The defendant initially helped the victim off the ground where she had fallen. He does not really recall touching her in the pubic area, but he accepts he must have done it. He is assessed at low risk of re-conviction and this behaviour was most out of character. He is a genuinely decent person and has expressed his shame and remorse for what happened."

Magistrate Harris told the defendant, who required a Romanian translator: "When DNA evidence was obtained you entered a guilty plea. You have a positive lifestyle and you are in full employment. I have read many references that speak of your good character, however we are dealing with an uninvited form of sexual contact with a vulnerable 17-year-old girl. The fact that she was drunk is no excuse for you to touch her in the intimate fashion you did.   

"There has been talk of misreading signals. You have to understand there are boundaries that cannot be crossed. You are still a young man and I hope you have learnt a lesson from this experience."