Robert Anthony Griffin grabbed the male officer’s genitalia as they walked past each other at Zodiac nightclub

“It’s not a body part most people grab when saying hello to someone,” a police prosecutor told a court during the sentencing of man who grabbed a male officer’s genitalia.

“It’s not a body part most people grab when saying hello to someone,” a police prosecutor told a court during the sentencing of man who grabbed a male officer’s genitalia as they walked past each other in a nightclub.

Not only did he grab the officer’s crotch, he had smiled and said hello seconds earlier.

The officer, who was understandably highly embarrassed and felt violated, had to carry out the interview of the offender in front of a female colleague.

Robert Anthony Griffin, 29, pleaded guilty on August 13 in Rockhampton Magistrates Court to one count of assaulting a police officer in a public place while intoxicated.

Police prosecutor Brandy Butler said the victim police officer was walking through Zodiac nightclub on May 8 when he spotted Griffin walking towards him in the opposite direction in the smoking balcony about 11.05pm.

She said Griffin greeted the officer verbally and smiled, seconds before the groping incident.

Ms Butler said Griffin grabbed the officer’s genitalia “momentarily” and walked away.

“It’s not a body part most people grab when saying hello to someone,” she said.

Defence lawyer Brian McGowran said wasn’t clear on what happened due to his intoxication levels, but thought he had planned to high five the officer as he walked past.

Defence lawyer Brian McGowran outside Rockhampton Magistrates Court.

Ms Butler said the victim officer confronted Griffin about the assault, which Griffin denied at that stage, as he slurred his words and became belligerent.

“No I f--ing didn’t. I want to see the f——ing footage,” Griffin told the officer.

Ms Butler said the officer, in his impact statement, stated he felt “incredibly uncomfortable and violated”.

She said the victim had felt embarrassed as he interview Griffin in front of female colleagues, describing how he was groped.

“The officer said he had been physically assaulted in the course of his duties in the past but the way the defendant has assaulted (him) was a gross violation of (his) personal space for which (he) could find no justification for,” Ms Butler said.

Mr McGowran said Griffin had started drinking at the Great Western at 3pm that day.

He said when the video was played to him, Griffin stated “I don’t like people who do that”.

Mr McGowran said Griffin wanted to apologise to the victim officer and offered to pay any compensation the court ordered.

Magistrate Cameron Press said there was a “very wrong track” society was going down with disrespect towards police.

“This is a momentary idiot action which was then followed by a degree of belligerence,” he said.

“It’s not a funny offence.”