Dennis Chambers, Gailes, sentenced for stoned sexual assault
A stoned senior made sudden sexual advances on a woman as she screamed for help, after he smoked cannabis.
Police & Courts
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A senior with minimal criminal history sexually assaulted a woman after getting high between chemo treatments, a court has heard.
Gailes boilermaker Dennis Chambers, 65, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on February 8, 2023, to one count of sexual assault.
The court heard he had been smoking cannabis for the second or third time in his life on a date in 2021 when he made “sudden sexual advances” on a woman.
Judge Dennis Lynch said the woman “plainly rejected” him but Chambers grabbed hold of her.
The court heard Chambers then touched the woman on the bottom and vagina.
Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand said Chambers then told the woman that “he’s going to have sex with her”.
He said she physically resisted, but Chambers struck her in the face and tried to kiss her.
“When she grabbed his throat and screamed for help, he struck her face again,” he said.
Judge Lynch said Chambers was persistent in his attempts, but eventually allowed the woman to leave.
The court heard the woman suffered minor facial injuries and reported the assault to police four days later.
Defence barrister Sarah Farnden told the court her client had cancer and was between chemotherapy treatments on the day of the offence.
The court heard Chambers’ cancer was stable at the time of sentence.
Ms Farnden emphasised her client was not a regular cannabis user and didn’t have a strong recollection of the offending.
She said he didn’t have any criminal history and the offending was “out of character”.
She argued her client should not serve any actual time in custody due to his age and health circumstances.
Judge Lynch said Chambers’ use of cannabis may have impacted his behaviour but that it was “no excuse”.
“But I can readily see and conclude that this was out of character for you”.
Chambers was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years.
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