Bundaberg man John Benedict Lee pleads guilty to assault, stealing and sexual assault

An unemployed man has been dealt his punishment for assaulting two women in separate incidents, including one where he groped a young woman who was trying to do her job.

Lee disputed many of the facts presented by the police prosector but denied several offers to adjourn for legal advice.

A Bundaberg man has been jailed after taking advantage of a woman trying to do her job and physically assaulting an older woman in a separate incident.

John Benedict Lee appeared in custody in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to several charges including sexual assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Lee, 45, represented himself on the back of 105 days in pre-sentence custody.

The court was told the assault unfolded on November 14, 2021, when the victim attended her friend’s residence while Lee was at the property.

Police Prosecutor Steven Baso told the court the victim got into an argument with the property owner over a debt when Lee stepped in.

“At this point he stood up and punched her repeatedly to her face, she turned away and tried to leave but Lee followed her and continued to punch her,” he said.

“She fell to the ground ... he continued to punch her as she was lying on the ground.”

The court was told the victim was hospitalised.

“She was an older woman and the incident has been quite traumatic for her,” Mr Baso said.

Photographs were submitted to the court which showed “significant” bruises to the victim’s hip, eye and chest.

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The court was told the “extremely opportunistic” sexual assaults occurred on September 5, 2022, when Lee walked into a hearing clinic without an appointment for a test.

Mr Baso told the court Lee was escorted to the rear of the shop by the 25-year-old attendant where he made several attempts to flirt with her.

“When the shop attendant was obtaining information from him, he reached out and touched her on the left breast in a pinching motion,” Mr Baso said.

The court was told the victim brushed Lee away and asked him to stop before she continued with her job.

“She felt to some extent her ability to take issue with Lee’s action was curtailed by the fact she had a job she was supposed to carry out,” Mr Baso said.

The court was told that when the test was finished Lee groped the victim again, this time grabbing her on the behind.

The court was told Lee also visited the Bourbong Street Cellars where he attempted to steal two cans of Jack Daniels premix.

A shop attendant confronted him and was able to recover one can but Lee escaped with the other.

Lee, who is unemployed, told the court he was not taking his schizophrenia medication at the time of the assaults.

He disputed many of the facts read out in court, but refused Ms Rowan’s offer to adjourn to allow him to get legal advice.

He was charged with two counts of sexual assault, one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of stealing.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan sentenced Lee to 15 months’ prison for the assault and 15 months’ for the sexual assaults, with convictions recorded.

He was not further punished in relation to the stealing charge.

His parole date was set for February 5, 2023.