Michael Adeyanju Osijo pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a female roommate in a boarding house

A young man has claimed he “misread the cues” and has pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting his roommate earlier this year after she told him she was cold.

A devout Christian from Adelaide’s southern suburbs has pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting his roommate earlier this year.

Appearing via video link, Michael Adeyanju Osijo, 25, pleaded guilty after what his lawyer called “misreading the cues” after touching his roommate’s rear and placing his hands on her breasts without consent.

“When he became aware he appeared remorseful and sent an apology to her phone via text message,” he said.

“That shows remorse and contrition.”

The court heard that on April 11 this year, Osijo was in the kitchen of the boarding house where he resided, cleaning the dishes with his roommate.

“The complainant said on a number of occasions she was cold before the defendant went to get a heater for her to use in her room,” Magistrate Rodney Oates read to the court.

“Whilst they both stood by the sink, the defendant rubbed the complainant’s leg with his foot as she kept drying her dishes.”

Christies Beach Magistrates Court. Picture: Kaysee Miller

The two went on to share a hug before Osijo grabbed his roommate’s behind.

“The defendant said they could go to his room and took the complainant’s hand and took her to the garage,” Magistrate Oates continued to explain.

It was in the garage the 25-year-old suggested sex before placing his hand on her chest, touching her breast.

The complainant told Osijo “that he couldn’t do that” before returning to the house and going into separate bedrooms.

Osijo was then arrested and has remained in custody ever since.

The 25-year-old’s lawyer said his client, who moved to Australia from Nigeria on a student visa, has strong religious beliefs and wants to continue studying for his degree.

“He has religious principles, your honour, he goes himself as a devout Christian and has always attended church since he was a child,” he said.

“He still wishes to continue with his studies doing a degree of applied social science and community services.”

Judge Oates allowed Osijo to make his submission as to why no conviction should be recorded against his client before stating young women need to be protected.

“The maximum penalty for this offence is eight years so it is a very serious offence,” he said.

“In modern times, general deterrence is a factor in sentencing on this charge.

“It seems to me that females need to be protected from unwanted male advances, the complainant didn’t want to be touched in the ways that she was.”

Osijo was sentenced to three months imprisonment but the sentence pared back to two months and three days.

Judge Oates backdated the imprisonment to when Osijo was taken into custody leaving him with only 20 days left to serve and placed him on a suspended sentence

Osijo agreed to enter a nine month good behaviour bond and was released from custody.

Convictions were recorded.